bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Shiga Toxin-Producing
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 Isolated in Italy and in France
Authors: Giammanco Giovanni M. , Pignato Sarina , Grimont Francine , Grimont Patrick A. D. , Caprioli Alfredo , Morabito Stefano , Giammanco Giuseppe 
Published: November 2002

ABSTRACT

Twenty-one
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 strains isolated in northern Italy from sporadic cases of hemolytic-uremic syndrome and from cattle and food were characterized by virulence gene analysis, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of
Xba
I-digested DNA, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) sequence-based PCR (ERIC-PCR), and antibiotic resistance patterns and compared to 18 strains isolated in France from human cases of diarrhea, cattle, and the environment. Strains isolated in Sicily (southern Italy) from a local farm (one strain) and from calves just imported from France (11 strains) and Spain (six strains) were also typed. Whereas the
eae
and
hlyA
genes were always detected, Shiga toxin gene (
stx
) analysis showed some differences related to geographic areas. Isolates from northern Italy showed a high frequency of
stx
1
and
stx
2
, while strains isolated in France and from French and Spanish calves imported to Sicily more frequently possessed the
stx
2c
gene. The majority of the strains isolated in northern Italy were also resistant to one or more antibiotics, while most of the strains isolated in France and Sicily were fully susceptible. ERIC-PCR analysis was not able to differentiate the strains. PFGE typing after
Xba
I DNA digestion produced a total of 54 distinct restriction endonuclease digestion profiles (REDPs) among the 57 strains. Phylogenetic analysis was unable to cluster REDPs according to geographic origin. All epidemiologically related isolates showed either identical or ≥91% similar REDPs. Our findings suggest a peculiar circulation of antibiotic-resistant, genetically unrelated strains in northern Italy.
Comparison of Automated and Nonautomated Systems for Identification of
Burkholderia pseudomallei
Authors: Lowe Peter , Engler Catherine , Norton Robert 
Published: November 2002

ABSTRACT

The identification of
Burkholderia pseudomallei
, the causative agent of melioidosis, is usually not difficult in laboratories in areas where it is endemic. With the increase in international travel and the threat of bioterrorism, it has become more likely that laboratories in areas where it is not endemic could encounter this organism. The increase in the use of and dependence upon automated identification systems makes accurate identification of uncommonly encountered organisms such as
B. pseudomallei
critically important. This study compares the manual API 20NE and 20E identification systems with the automated Vitek 1 and 2 systems. A total of 103
B. pseudomallei
isolates were tested and correctly identified in 98%, 99%, 99%, and 19% of cases, respectively. The failure of the Vitek 2 to correctly identify
B. pseudomallei
was largely due to differences in the biochemical reactions achieved compared to expected values in the database. It is suggested that this deficiency in the Vitek 2 may be due to the large number of uncertain results reported for these isolates. These results reduce the discriminating ability of the instrument to distinguish between uncommonly encountered isolates such as those of
B. pseudomallei
.
Molecular Epidemiology of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing, Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Isolates of
Klebsiella pneumoniae
in Taiwan
Authors: Yu W.-L. , Jones R. N. , Hollis R. J. , Messer S. A. , Biedenbach D. J. , Deshpande L. M. , Pfaller M. A. 
Published: November 2002

ABSTRACT

Strains of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(ESBL-KP) have emerged worldwide. Concomitant ciprofloxacin resistance with ESBL production in
K. pneumoniae
isolates would severely restrict treatment options. Among 39 (18.5%) of 211 ESBL-KP isolates resistant to ciprofloxacin (MIC, ≥4 μg/ml), 37 (95%) were high level resistant (MIC, ≥16 μg/ml). These isolates were also cross resistant to the newer fluoroquinolones, including levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, and garenoxacin (BMS 284756). Sitafloxacin was most active against these ciprofloxacin-resistant ESBL-KP isolates with MICs for 67% of the isolates being ≤2 μg/ml. The molecular epidemiology of these multiresistant isolates was investigated by automated ribotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Ribotyping identified 18 different strains among the 39 ciprofloxacin-resistant ESBL-KP isolates. The majority (67%) of these isolates were contained in six ribogroups which were further confirmed by PFGE. The distribution of the six major strains of ciprofloxacin-resistant ESBL-KP within Taiwan included one (ribogroup 255.3-PFGE type E) with a nationwide distribution and several institution-specific strains. Interhospital cooperation appears necessary, with strict infection control practices coupled with restriction of fluoroquinolone and extended-spectrum β-lactam use to control both the major epidemic strain and the more diverse strains observed within individual institutions.
Molecular Characterization of Cephalosporin-Resistant
Salmonella enterica
Serotype Newport Isolates from Animals in Pennsylvania
Authors: Rankin Shelley C. , Aceto Helen , Cassidy Jennifer , Holt Jeff , Young Sheri , Love Brenda , Tewari Deepanker , Munro Donald S. , Benson Charles E. 
Published: November 2002

ABSTRACT

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of
Salmonella enterica
serotype Newport have been described for many years. However, the recognition of Newport strains with resistance to cephalosporin antibiotics is more recent. Plasmid-mediated CMY-2 AmpC β-lactamases have been identified in
Salmonella
in the United States, and the
bla
CMY-2
gene has been shown to be present in
Salmonella
serotype Newport. This organism is currently undergoing epidemic spread in both animals and humans in the United States, and this is to our knowledge the first description of the molecular epidemiology of this
Salmonella
strain in animals. Forty-two isolates were included in this study. All isolates were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, plasmid analysis, and antibiogram. Four pulsed-field profiles with
Xba
I were observed. Plasmid analyses showed that although the majority of isolates harbored a single plasmid of 140 kb, this plasmid was not identical in all strains. All isolates showed the presence of the
bla
CMY
gene by PCR. Integrons were detected in 16 of the 42 isolates; a fragment of approximately 1,000 bp, amplified with the
int
I-F and
aad
AI-R primers, confirmed the presence of the
aad
AI gene cassette within an integron in these 16 isolates. The potential for coselection of the
bla
CMY
gene, if located on an MDR replicon, may not be dependent on any particular antibiotic but rather may be the result of more general antimicrobial use. If this replicon is mobile, it is to be expected that similar MDR strains of additional
Salmonella
serotypes will be recognized in due course.
Novel Algorithm Identifies Species in a Polymycobacterial Sample by Fluorescence Capillary Electrophoresis-Based Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism Analysis
Authors: Iwamoto Tomotada , Sonobe Toshiaki , Hayashi Kozaburo 
Published: November 2002

ABSTRACT

An algorithm to directly identify multiple mycobacterial species in a sample by using fluorescence capillary electrophoresis (FCE)-based single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis was developed. Part of the 16S-23S ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region in 37 reference strains and 73 clinical isolates representing 19 mycobacterial species and
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
complex was PCR amplified with a fluorescence-labeled mycobacterium-specific primer, 6-carboxyfluorescein-labeled primer Sp1f, and 5-hexachlorofluorescein-tagged Sp2r. FCE-SSCP analysis was applied to both undigested PCR products and the corresponding
Hae
III-digested restriction fragments (RF) from each strain. The 23 resultant SSCP patterns distinguished all 19 species and
M. tuberculosis
complex. The technique is applicable for the detection of multiple mycobacterial species in a sample. It was demonstrated by analyzing two model mycobacterial communities consisting of five species with both rapidly and slowly growing species (model A) and four species commonly encountered in clinical practice (model B). The sensitivity study with spiked sputum samples with different amounts of
M. tuberculosis
H37Rv,
M. avium
, and
M. intracellulare
cells indicated that up to 25% of the amount of each mycobacterium could be detected relative to the two other species. Fifty-one sputum specimens analyzed by FCE-RF-SSCP were compared with the Amplicor assay (Roche Diagnostics GmbH). Species identified by both assays were always the same. Moreover, FCE-RF-SSCP could identify
M. abscessus
and
M. kansasii
, which are not targeted by Amplicor. FCE-RF-SSCP of sputum obtained from a patient with mixed
M. avium
and
M. intracellulare
infection gave SSCP patterns corresponding to these two species.
Development of a Real-Time Fluorescence PCR Assay for Rapid Detection of the Diphtheria Toxin Gene
Authors: Mothershed Elizabeth A. , Cassiday Pamela K. , Pierson Kevin , Mayer Leonard W. , Popovic Tanja 
Published: November 2002

ABSTRACT

We developed and evaluated a real-time fluorescence PCR assay for detecting the A and B subunits of diphtheria toxin (
tox
) gene. When 23 toxigenic
Corynebacterium diphtheriae
strains, 9 nontoxigenic
C. diphtheriae
strains, and 44 strains representing the diversity of pathogens and normal respiratory flora were tested, this real-time PCR assay exhibited 100% sensitivity and specificity. It allowed for the detection of both subunits of the
tox
gene at 750 times greater sensitivity (2 CFU) than the standard PCR (1,500 CFU). When used directly on specimens collected from patients with clinical diphtheria, one or both subunits of the
tox
gene were detected in 34 of 36 specimens by using the real-time PCR assay; only 9 specimens were found to be positive by standard PCR. Reamplification by standard PCR and DNA sequencing of the amplification product confirmed all real-time PCR
tox
-positive reactions. This real-time PCR format is a more sensitive and rapid alternative to standard PCR for detection of the
tox
gene in clinical material.
Detection of Imported Malaria with the Cell-Dyn 4000 Hematology Analyzer
Authors: Wever Peter C. , Henskens Yvonne M. C. , Kager Piet A. , Dankert Jacob , van Gool Tom 
Published: November 2002

ABSTRACT

The sensitivity and specificity of the Cell-Dyn 4000 hematology analyzer in the diagnosis of imported malaria were studied with samples from patients in an academic hospital setting. The performance of the Cell-Dyn 4000 hematology analyzer was compared with that of conventional diagnostic methods for malaria. The Cell-Dyn 4000 hematology analyzer detected hemozoin-containing depolarizing monocytes in 29 of 58 patients with malaria and 2 of 55 patients without malaria. The presence or absence of depolarizing monocytes in patients with malaria was related to duration of symptoms before presentation for malaria analysis. A second parameter, pseudoreticulocytosis due to nuclear material of intraerythrocytic malaria parasites, was detected by the Cell-Dyn 4000 hematology analyzer almost exclusively in
Plasmodium falciparum
malaria patients with parasitemia levels of ≥0.5%. Attention to these abnormalities in medical centers without tropical disease expertise may decrease a delay in the diagnosis of malaria.
Diversity among French
Bacillus anthracis
Isolates
Authors: Fouet Agnès , Smith Kimothy L. , Keys Chris , Vaissaire Josée , Le Doujet Claudine , Lévy Martine , Mock Michèle , Keim Paul 
Published: November 2002

ABSTRACT

While outbreaks of animal anthrax zoonoses still regularly occur in France, little is known about the epidemiology links between them. We have used the eight-locus multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis typing technique against a collection of 50
Bacillus anthracis
isolates from France. There were eight distinct genotypes belonging to two dissimilar genetic clusters. Regional strain patterns were observed, with the B2 genotypes prevalent in southern France and the A1a genotypes found only in northern France.
Evaluation of a Plastic Nonvented Aerobic Blood Culture Bottle for Use with the BacT/ALERT Microbial Detection System
Authors: Snyder J. W. , Munier G. K. , Bostic G. D. , Bozigar P. S. , Hanna R. 
Published: November 2002

ABSTRACT
The current BacT/ALERT SA (BTA SA) aerobic blood culture bottle is made from glass, does not require venting, and contains a liquid emulsion sensor (LES). Its performance has been shown to be equivalent to that of the vented standard aerobic culture bottle. A further-improved version of the BTA SA bottle, designated the BacT/ALERT plastic SA (BTA PSA) culture bottle, is made from clear plastic to prevent breakage, does not require venting, and contains a modified LES (LES 2) to reduce the possibility of false positives. The BTA PSA provides a practical alternative to the current glass version of this bottle. The plastic bottle is also comparable to the current glass bottle in transparency and growth performance and additionally minimizes the exposure to infectious agents due to glass bottle breakage.
Persistence of Pigment Production by Yeast Isolates Grown on CHROMagar Candida Medium
Authors: Hospenthal Duane R. , Murray Clinton K. , Beckius Miriam L. , Green Judith A. , Dooley David P. 
Published: November 2002

ABSTRACT

We evaluated the persistence of pigmentation in yeast isolates grown on the chromogenic medium CHROMagar Candida over 7 days.
Candida
,
Cryptococcus
, and
Trichosporon
isolates were inoculated alone or mixed onto duplicate sets of plates and incubated at 30 and 35°C.
Candida albicans
and
Candida krusei
were readily identified throughout the reading period, but
Candida glabrata
was difficult to differentiate from other species until the 3- or 4-day time point.
Candida tropicalis
produced colonies similar to those of rare
Cryptococcus
and
Trichosporon
species, and mixed cultures were often difficult to identify as such.
Isolation of
Campylobacter fetus
subsp.
fetus
from a Patient with Cellulitis
Authors: Briedis Dalius J. , Khamessan Ali , McLaughlin Richard W. , Vali Hojatollah , Panaritou Maria , Chan Eddie C. S. 
Published: November 2002

ABSTRACT

Campylobacter fetus
subsp.
fetus
is a gram-negative, slender, spirally curved bacterial pathogen. It has been isolated from human blood, spinal fluid, and abscesses, but cellulitis associated with bacteremia is rare. We report its isolation from a blood culture of a human patient with cellulitis as well as difficulties encountered in determining the identity of the subspecies of
C. fetus
.
Have the attitudes of Australian squash players towards protective eyewear changed over the past decade?
Authors: Eime R M , Finch C F 
Published: November 2002

Objective:To assess indicative trends in the use of protective eyewear by Australian squash players and their attitudes towards its use since 1989.Methods:Data were extracted from three Australian surveys of squash players conducted in 1989, 1995, and 2000. Responses to directly similar attitudinal questions relating to protective eyewear use from each survey were compared. The proportion of players giving each response was calculated for each survey, along with 95% confidence intervals for the differences between the 2000 survey and those from the earlier surveys.Results:Self reported use of protective eyewear ranged from 10.0% in 1989, to 8.6% in 1995, and 18.8% in 2000. However, only 8.9% of the players surveyed in 2000 actually wore appropriate standards approved/polycarbonate lens eyewear. This can be compared with 8.0% and 2.0% of players who reported wearing appropriate polycarbonate lens eyewear in the 1989 and 1995 surveys respectively. Compared with the 1995 survey, significantly more players in 2000 believed that more players should wear protective eyewear (95% confidence interval (CI) for difference 1 to 18). A significantly higher proportion of players also supported the compulsory use of protective eyewear by juniors in 2000 than in both 1989 (95% CI for difference 6 to 24) and 1995 (95% CI for difference 5 to 22). No other attitudes had significantly changed over the decade.Conclusion:These data suggest that self reported use of protective eyewear has probably increased over the past decade. However, many players report wearing inappropriate eyewear. A transition from positive attitudes to appropriate eyewear behaviours is required before mandatory protective eyewear use can be effectively introduced.
Evaluating the level of injury in English professional football using a risk based assessment process
Authors: Drawer S , Fuller C W 
Published: November 2002

Objectives:To show how epidemiological data can be presented and analysed in frequency based and risk based formats and how risk based information can simplify management decisions on injury prevention strategies in professional football.Methods:The club physiotherapists at four English professional football clubs prospectively recorded players’ injuries over the period November 1994 to May 1997. The nature, location, and mechanism of each injury and the specific numbers of days that players were unavailable to train or play as a result of injuries were recorded. The rates of injury were evaluated on a risk matrix using the number of days and the estimated costs of absence as measures of injury consequences.Results:There was a significant difference in the time lost through injury as a function of injury severity (p<0.001). Slight and minor injuries accounted for 51% of all injuries but represented only 17% of the risk from injury, whereas major injuries accounted for only 12% of the number of injuries and 47% of the risk. Player to player contact injuries accounted for 39% of the risk of injury, and football specific activities accounted for 47% of the risk. The risks of acute injury in professional football were three orders of magnitude greater than those in the construction, manufacturing, and service sectors of industry.Conclusions:The risks associated with minor, moderate, and major acute injuries and osteoarthritis in lower limb joints of professional footballers were found to be unacceptable when evaluated against work based risk criteria used by the Health and Safety Executive. All stakeholders within professional football were shown to have an important contribution to make in reducing the overall level of risk to players through the provision of risk prevention strategies.
Sphincter-Sparing Local Excision and Adjuvant Radiation for Anal-Rectal Melanoma
Authors: Ballo Matthew T. , Gershenwald Jeffrey E. , Zagars Gunar K. , Lee Jeffrey E. , Mansfield Paul F. , Strom Eric A. , Bedikian Agop Y. , Kim Kevin B.S. , Papadopoulos Nicholas E. , Prieto Victor G. , Ross Merrick I. 
Published: November 2002

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome and toxicity of a sphincter-sparing treatment strategy in the management of patients with anal-rectal melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1989 and 2000, 23 patients with invasive anal-rectal melanoma were managed with sphincter-sparing surgical resection and adjuvant radiation. Surgery consisted of primary local excision, as well as dissection for patients with documented regional nodal disease. Adjuvant radiation was delivered using a hypofractionated regimen of 30 Gy in five fractions over 2.5 weeks. Adjuvant systemic therapy was delivered to nine patients: cytotoxic chemotherapy in seven and immunotherapy in two. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 32 months, 15 patients had relapsed and 15 patients had died. The actuarial 5-year overall, disease-specific, disease-free, and distant metastasis-free survival rates were 31%, 36%, 37%, and 35%, respectively. The actuarial 5-year local and regional nodal control rates were 74% and 84%, respectively. No patient had locoregional failure as the sole site of failure and no patient required salvage abdominoperineal resection (APR). By univariate analysis, patients with nodal disease at presentation had a decreased actuarial 5-year disease-specific (0% v 45%, P = .004), disease-free (0% v 45%, P < .001), and distant metastasis-free survival (0% v 42%, P < .001). The actuarial complication-free survival rate was 71%. Two patients developed mild scrotal edema (grade 1), and four patients developed moderate proctitis requiring prolonged medical management (grade 2). CONCLUSION: Sphincter-sparing local excision and adjuvant radiation is well tolerated and can effectively control local-regional disease while avoiding the functional morbidity of APR.
Efficacy and Quality-of-Life Data Are Related in a Phase II Trial of Oral Chemotherapy in Previously Untreated Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma
Authors: Hobday Timothy J. , Kugler John W. , Mahoney Michelle R. , Sargent Daniel J. , Sloan Jeff A. , Fitch Tom R. , Krook James E. , O’Connell Michael J. , Mailliard James A. , Tirona Maria Tria , Tschetter Loren K. , Cobau Charles D. , Goldberg Richard M. 
Published: November 2002

PURPOSE: To evaluate quality of life (QOL) and tumor response after administration of an oral chemotherapy regimen in patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight patients received a mean number of 5.8 cycles of therapy. QOL data were analyzed at baseline, after every two cycles of therapy, and at the time of treatment discontinuation. The Uniscale and the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 were both utilized. RESULTS: The confirmed response rate was 26% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17% to 37%). Median survival was 11.3 months (95% CI, 9.6 to 15.1 months). Global QOL scores were unchanged over the course of therapy by either tool. Only the physical function subscale score had worsened at the end of therapy. In an analysis of responding patients, significant and durable improvements in both global QOL measures as well as select subscale scores were observed. Diarrhea and physical function QOL scores had declined at the time of treatment discontinuation. Patients who did not respond to therapy had preserved QOL scores when they were evaluated after two cycles of therapy. CONCLUSION: This oral treatment strategy preserved QOL in treated patients. Global QOL measures as well as several QOL subscale scores significantly improved in patients with a documented response to therapy. The profile of improved QOL components indicated that patient well-being was related to tumor response in specific and perceivable ways. Nonresponding patients reported preserved QOL during the first two cycles of therapy. QOL analysis was feasible and informative in this moderately sized multicenter phase II trial.