Hypothesis testing, statistical power, and confidence limits in the presence of epistemic uncertainty.

Hypothesis testing, statistical power, and confidence limits are concepts from classical statistics that require data from observations. In some important recent applications some of the data are not observational but are reconstructed by computer models. There is generally epistemic uncertainty in model formulations, as well as in parameter and input values.

Sustained expression of early growth response protein-1 blocks angiogenesis and tumor growth.

Transient induction of the transcription factor early growth response protein-1 (EGR-1) plays a pivotal role in the transcriptional response of endothelial cells to the angiogenic growth factors vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), which are produced by most tumors and are involved in the angiogenic switch. We report here that sustained expression of EGR-1 by recombinant adenoviruses in endothelial cells, however, leads to the specific induction of potent feedback inhibitory mechanisms, including strong up-regulation of transcriptional repressors, negative cell cycle check point effectors, proteins with established antiangiogenic activity, and several proapoptotic genes. Sustained EGR-1 expression consistently leads to an antiangiogenic state characterized by an altered responsiveness to VEGF and bFGF and a striking inhibition of sprouting and tubule formation in vitro.

Population structure of Francisella tularensis.

We have sequenced fragments of five metabolic housekeeping genes and two genes encoding outer membrane proteins from 81 isolates of Francisella tularensis, representing all four subspecies. Phylogenetic clustering of gene sequences from F. tularensis subsp.

[Aeromonas associated with an acute diarrhea outbreak in São Bento do Una, Pernambuco].

An acute diarrhea outbreak, with 2170 cases, was described during January to July, 2004, in São Bento do Una, Pernambuco. 582 stools were examined and an enteric pathogen was recovered in 25% (145 patients). Aeromonas species were the most frequent (114-19.

Distribution of virulence markers in clinical and environmental Vibrio cholerae non-O1/non-O139 strains isolated in Brazil from 1991 to 2000.

One hundred seventy nine Vibrio cholerae non-O1/non-O139 strains from clinical and different environmental sources isolated in Brazil from 1991 to 2000 were serogrouped and screened for the presence of four different virulence factors. The Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to evaluate the genetic relatedness among strains. Fifty-four different serogroups were identified and V.

[Serovars of Listeria monocytogenes and related species isolated from human clinical specimens].

Using phenotype techniques, characterization was realized of species and serovars of 255 strains of Listeria isolated from human material: 220-86.3% were from patients with possible invasive disease, while 35-13.7% were from colonized healthy individuals.

A new floating sensor array to detect electric near fields of beating heart preparations.

A new flexible sensor for in vitro experiments was developed to measure the surface potential, Phi, and its gradient, E (electric near field), at given sites of the heart. During depolarisation, E describes a vector loop from which direction and magnitude of local conduction velocity theta can be computed. Four recording silver electrodes (14 microm x 14 microm) separated by 50 microm, conducting leads, and solderable pads were patterned on a 50 microm thick polyimide film.

Alteration on the expression of IL-1, PDGF, TGF-beta, EGF, and FGF receptors and c-Fos and c-Myc proteins in bone marrow mesenchymal stroma cells from advanced untreated lung and breast cancer patients.

Previously, we reported a deficient cloning capacity of the bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stem cells to give colony-forming unit fibroblast (CFU-F) and an inefficient confluence capacity of BM stromal cells in advanced untreated lung cancer patients (LCP) and breast cancer patients (BCP). Moreover, a decreased level of bFGF at day 7 in the conditioned media from BM CFU-F cultures was found in both cancer groups when compared to the normal range. The current study was specially undertaken, to evaluate the percentage of subconfluent fibroblasts expressing receptors (R) of interleukin-1 (IL-1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), transforming growth factor (TGF-beta), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and the proteins c-Fos and c-Myc in BM primary cultures from untreated LCP and BCP.

Contributions of Purkinje-myocardial coupling to suppression and facilitation of early afterdepolarization-induced triggered activity.

Electrical loading by ventricular myocardium modulates conduction system repolarization near Purkinje-ventricular junctions (PVJs). We investigated how that loading suppresses and facilitates early afterdepolarizations (EADs) under conditions where there is a high degree of functional coupling between tissue types, which is consistent with the anatomic arrangement at the peripheral conduction system-myocardial interface. Experiments were completed in eight rabbit right ventricular (RV) free wall preparations.

Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Austrian Francisella tularensis holarctica biovar II strains.

The antibiotic susceptibilities of 50 Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica biovar II strains isolated from hares and human patients from the eastern part of Austria were examined. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 24 antimicrobial agents were determined using Eteststrade mark on cysteine heart agar plates supplemented with 10% sheep blood.

Effective enantiodifferentiation of spirochalcogenuranes by the dirhodium method: towards the determination of absolute configurations?

The properties of chiral spirochalcogenuranes acting as ligands in adducts with a chiral dirhodium tetracarboxylate complex is explored, and the individual adduct species are characterized by low-temperature NMR spectroscopy. Chiral recognition and the determination of enantiomeric composition of the chiral spirochalcogenuranes is easy by evaluating NMR signal dispersions both at low and at room- or slightly elevated temperatures. The uniformity in the signs of 1H dispersion effects and taking reference to the spiroselenurane with known absolute configuration [(S)-(-)-2] indicates that a convenient rule for the determination of absolute configuration in the spirochalcogenurane system can be established on the basis of 1H chemical shift dispersions.

Coffee diterpenes prevent the genotoxic effects of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) and N-nitrosodimethylamine in a human derived liver cell line (HepG2).

Aim of the present experiments was to study the genotoxic effects of coffee diterpenoids, namely cafestol palmitate and a mix of cafestol and kahweol (C+K) in human derived hepatoma (HepG2) cells. Furthermore, we investigated the potential protective properties of these substances towards carcinogens contained in the human diet, namely N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP). C+K and cafestol palmitate were tested over a broad dose range in micronucleus (MN) assays and no indication for genotoxic effects was seen.

Effect of saliva composition on experimental root caries.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of saliva composition on caries lesion development independently of the flow rate of unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) and other caries-related variables such as lesion progression time, oral hygiene level, and fluoride exposure. We hypothesized that this could be done by developing experimental root caries under carefully controlled conditions in situ in test subjects with UWS flow rates within a narrow window of normalcy. Fifteen female and 5 male subjects (66 +/- 6 years) were selected for the study according to their UWS flow rates between 0.

Influence of amphotericin B on the ciliary beat frequency of nasal mucosa.

Objective: A new therapeutic approach in eosinophilic fungal rhinosinusitis is topical application of antifungals such as amphotericin B. The tolerability of a recently applied concentration of this drug by human nasal mucosa was tested in vitro.

Methods: Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) was measured by a photometric technique, combining a light microscope, a photometer, a photograph-multiplier, and a computed analyzing unit.

[Molecular study of Vibrio cholerae non-O1 isolated from zooplankton of São Marcos Bay/São Luis - MA, Brasil].

The study was developed to analyze the plasmidial DNA, research virulence genes and identify genetic diversity of 31 strains of Vibrio cholerae non-O1 isolated from zooplankton of the Bacanga and Anil rivers in São Luis-MA. The study of plasmidial DNA showed 2 or 3 plasmids from 10 strains between 5.5 and 40 kilobasis.

[Association between Vibrio cholerae and zooplankton of estuaries of São Marcos Bay/São Luis - MA, Brazil].

This study was carried from October 1997 to October 1998 with the purpose of investigating the link between the species Vibrio cholerae and zooplankton in the estuaries of rivers Anil and Bacanga in São Luis, Maranhão. Research of viable but non culturable forms of Vibrio cholerae O1, and analyze the correlation between pH values, salinity and water temperature with the presence of bacteria in zooplankton samples. The traditional method of cultivation and fluorescent antibody technique were applied to detect the bacteria.

Salmonella enterica subsp houtenae serogroup O:16 in a HIV positive patient: case report.

We described a case of salmonellosis in a 33-year old HIV-infected patient. The patient presented oral and esophageal candidiasis, intense epigastric and retrosternal pain. During the physical examination he was hypochloraemic, acyanotic, hypohydrated, anicteric and afebrile.

Detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio cholerae in oyster, Crassostrea rhizophorae, collected from a natural nursery in the Cocó river estuary, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

Oysters are edible organisms that are often ingested partially cooked or even raw, presenting therefore a very high risk to the consumers' health, especially in tropical regions. The presence of Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oysters sampled at an estuary in the Brazilian northeastern region was studied, with 300 oysters tested through an 8-months period. The salinity of the water at the sampling point varied between 3% and 27.

Optimization of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction for molecular typing of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi.

Optimization of the RAPD reaction for characterizing Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi strains was studied in order to ensure the reproducibility and the discriminatory power of this technique. Eight Salmonella serovar Typhi strains isolated from various regions in Brazil were examined for the fragment patterns produced using different concentrations of DNA template, primer, MgCl2 and Taq DNA polymerase. Using two different low stringency thermal cycle profiles, the RAPD fingerprints obtained were compared.

Burkholderia pseudomallei: a case report of a human infection in Ceará, Brazil.

Burkholderia pseudomallei has rarely been isolated from environmental and clinical specimens in South America, particularly, in Brazil. This report describes a case of melioidosis with fulminant sepsis in a 10 year old boy, from rural area, in Tejuçuoca, State of Ceará, Brazil. Blood samples were positive and, through the analysis of results from biochemical tests and of drugs susceptibility profile, identified this gram-negative bacillus as B.

Evaluation of a RAPD-based typing scheme in a molecular epidemiology study of Vibrio cholerae O1, Brazil.

Aims: To evaluate the utility of random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique for routine practice in public health laboratories for epidemiological studies of Vibrio cholerae O1 isolates.

Materials And Results: Seventy-nine strains were examined by PCR for the toxin genes (ctx A, zot and ace), virulence-associated genes (tcp A and tox T) and RAPD sequences. Except for one strain (no.

Cardiac near-field morphology during conduction around a microscopic obstacle--a computer simulation study.

In a recent paper, we described the behavior of the cardiac electric near-field, E, parallel to the tissue surface during continuous conduction. We found that the tip of E describes a vector-loop during depolarization with the peak field, E, pointing opposite to the direction of propagation, phiI(m). Experimentally recorded loop morphologies of E, however, frequently showed significant deviations from the theoretically predicted behavior.

Use of cardiac electric near-field measurements to determine activation times.

In a recent paper, we described the behavior of the cardiac electric near-field, E, parallel to the tissue surface during continuous conduction. We found that T(E), the time at which the peak near-field, E, occurs, is an accurate marker of local activation time. Examination of experimentally recorded E vector loops revealed a large variety of morphologies.

Identifying and subtyping species of dangerous pathogens by automated ribotyping.

An investigation of dangerous bacterial pathogens was conducted to determine the usefulness of automated rRNA operon ribotyping (RiboPrinter system) to identify species. A total of 26 isolates comprising Bacillus anthracis, Brucella spp., Burkholderia mallei, Francisella tularensis, and Yersinia pestis were tested using restriction endonucleases EcoRI, PstI, PvuII and AseI.