Reliability of the alcohol and drug modules of the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule--Alcohol/Drug-Revised (AUDADIS-ADR): an international comparison.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the test-retest reliability of the alcohol and drug modules of the AUDADIS-ADR in three sites: Bangalore, India, Jebel, Romania and Sydney, Australia. The overall reliability of ICD-10, DSM-IV and DSM-III-R dependence diagnoses was found to be good to excellent for each substance, including alcohol, for each time frame, regardless of whether the total sample or user subsample figured into the calculations. Reliability associated with corresponding harmful use and abuse diagnoses were mixed, but generally lower.

WHO Study on the reliability and validity of the alcohol and drug use disorder instruments: overview of methods and results.

The WHO Study on the reliability and validity of the alcohol and drug use disorder instruments in an international study which has taken place in centres in ten countries, aiming to test the reliability and validity of three diagnostic instruments for alcohol and drug use disorders: the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) and a special version of the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview schedule-alcohol/drug-revised (AUDADIS-ADR). The purpose of the reliability and validity (R&V) study is to further develop the alcohol and drug sections of these instruments so that a range of substance-related diagnoses can be made in a systematic, consistent, and reliable way. The study focuses on new criteria proposed in the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) and the fourth revision of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV) for dependence, harmful use and abuse categories for alcohol and psychoactive substance use disorders.

Structure and genomic organization of a novel human endogenous retrovirus family: HERV-K (HML-6).

Prototypic elements of a novel human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) family were identified and cloned from a human genomic library by the use of a pol fragment, HML-6, related to type A and type B retroviruses and class II HERVs. Out of 39 polhybridizing clones, five contained structures of full-length retroviral proviruses, with regions showing similarity to gag, pol and env, flanked by long terminal repeats (LTRs). Restriction mapping and partial sequence analysis of each full-length clone revealed few conserved restriction sites among HML-6 genomes, and about 20% sequence divergence over the reverse transcriptase region sequenced, suggesting that HML-6 constitutes a heterogeneous, but distinct family of elements belonging to the HERV-K superfamily.

The Ly-49 family: genes, proteins and recognition of class I MHC.

The Ly-49 family consists of at least nine members, of which Ly-49A and C have been found to be NK-cell inhibitory receptors specific for class I MHC. The functions of other Ly-49 molecules are still unclear. Further analysis of Ly-49 is complicated by the cross-reactivities of some anti-Ly-49 antibodies initially thought to be specific for individual Ly-49 molecules.

Genomic structure and evolution of a novel gene (PLA2L) with duplicated phospholipase A2-like domains.

In a previous study, we isolated a novel human cDNA with two domains of homology to secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) embedded within a much larger open reading frame. The corresponding gene, termed PLA2L, is also unusual in that it is transcribed from an endogenous retroviral long terminal repeat promoter in teratocarcinoma cell lines. The associated retroviral element, a member of the HERV-H family of sequences, is found within an intron of the human PLA2L gene and has apparently assumed transcriptional regulatory functions at this locus.

Heterogeneity among Ly-49C natural killer (NK) cells: characterization of highly related receptors with differing functions and expression patterns.

Ly-49C is a member of the polymorphic family of murine NK cell inhibitory receptors. The 5E6 antibody that defines a subset of NK cells responsible for the rejection of parental H-2d bone marrow by F1 mice has been shown previously to react with Ly-49C. Here, the 5E6 antibody was found to detect two Ly-49C-related molecules in B6 mice.

Comparing assessments of DSM-IV substance dependence disorders using CIDI-SAM and SCAN.

The main question addressed by this paper is whether DSM-IV substance dependence diagnoses obtained from two different instruments (the semi-structured WHO Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, SCAN and the highly structured WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview--Substance Abuse Module, SAM) are as consistent as diagnoses obtained from a single instrument (SAM) administered twice. Such comparisons of results from the two different instruments provide some measure of validity of the lay-administered SAM and of the underlying diagnostic concepts. Chance-corrected concordance was estimated using the kappa coefficient for SAM/SCAN (test/validation) and SAM/SAM (test/retest) comparisons.

Gain of Sp1 sites and loss of repressor sequences associated with a young, transcriptionally active subset of HERV-H endogenous long terminal repeats.

HERV-H sequences comprise a large family of human endogenous retrovirus-like elements. Previous DNA sequence comparisons of HERV-H long terminal repeats (LTRs) have led to their classification into three subtypes, Types I, Ia, and II. Type Ia appears to have been generated by recombination between Type I and Type II LTRs.

Transcripts from a novel human KRAB zinc finger gene contain spliced Alu and endogenous retroviral segments.

During the course of an investigation into the potential effects of endogenous retroviruses on adjacent gene expression, we isolated two cDNA clones containing a small sequence segment belonging to the human endogenous retrovirus family, HERV-H. Characterization of the clones revealed that they represent transcripts from a novel KRAB zinc finger gene termed ZNF177. The two cDNA clones differ at their 5' termini and in the presence of a 559-bp internal exon.

Expression of novel-transposon-containing mRNAs in human T cells.

The HERV-H family of endogenous retrovirus like elements is the largest such human family known. Using an HERV-H LTR probe, 6 and 4.5 kb transcripts were detected by Northern blot analysis which were induced in normal peripheral T cells after treatment with phytohaemaglutinin (PHA).

Recognition of class I major histocompatibility complex molecules by Ly-49: specificities and domain interactions.

Ly-49 is a family type II transmembrane proteins encoded by a gene cluster on murine chromosome 6. One member of this family, Ly-49A, is expressed by a natural killer (NK) cell subset, binds to class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, and blocks the killing of target cells bearing the appropriate H-2 antigens. Here we show that another member of this family which is expressed by an NK cell subset, Ly-49C, recognizes H-2b and H-2d structures which are distinct from and overlapping with those recognized by Ly-49A.

Self-report stability for substance use over 10 years: data from the St. Louis Epidemiologic Catchment Study.

In substance abuse research many study protocols require the recall and report of behavior from the distant past that may affect reliability. This study addresses the stability of substance use reports over a 10-year follow-up period. We reinterviewed 223 ECA subjects who reported baseline drug use.

HERV-H endogenous retroviruses: presence in the New World branch but amplification in the Old World primate lineage.

The evolutionary origin and age of the HERV-H family of human endogenous retrovirus-like sequences was investigated in this study. HERV-H elements exist in approximately 900 partially deleted copies and 50-100 more intact forms in humans and Old World monkeys. However, their possible presence in more divergent species is unknown.

Carbohydrate recognition by a natural killer cell receptor, Ly-49C.

Ly-49 represents a family of type II transmembrane proteins containing C-type lectin domains. At least two members of the Ly-49 family, namely Ly-49A and Ly-49C, are expressed by distinct subsets of natural killer cells and bind to class I major histocompatibility complex antigens on the surface of target cells. In this report we have established that Ly-49C mediates carbohydrate recognition.

Subtypes of adult antisocial behavior among drug abusers.

Recent work has shown that a substantial proportion of injecting drug users would have met criteria for antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) if the childhood trajectory of conduct disorder (CD) were ignored. From among 545 St. Louis, Missouri, drug users interviewed in person, we evaluated the clinical homogeneity of the 405 men and women with adult antisocial behaviors who did and did not have conduct disorder.

Spliced HERV-H endogenous retroviral sequences in human genomic DNA: evidence for amplification via retrotransposition.

HERV-H elements are a large family of endogenous retrovirus-like sequences found in approximately 1000 dispersed copies in the genomes of humans and other primates. The most abundant subclass of these elements is a partially deleted form of 5.8 kb which is transcribed primarily as a 5.

Expression of different members of the Ly-49 gene family defines distinct natural killer cell subsets and cell adhesion properties.

The murine Ly-49 antigen belongs to a family of type II transmembrane molecules containing lectin-like domains. The original member of this family, Ly-49A, has been demonstrated to be expressed by a subpopulation of natural killer (NK) cells, bind certain class I major histocompatibility complexes (MHC), and act as a negative regulator of lytic activity. The expression patterns and functional activities of the other Ly-49s, however, is unknown.

Recent evolutionary expansion of a subfamily of RTVL-H human endogenous retrovirus-like elements.

The RTVL-H family is a medium repetitive family endogenous retrovirus-like sequences found in the genomes of humans and other primates. Different subfamilies of RTVL-H elements can be identified based on sequence differences clustered within the U3 region of their long terminal repeats (LTRs). These subfamilies have been designated Type I, Type Ia, and Type II.

Subjective reports of withdrawal among cocaine users: recommendations for DSM-IV.

The proposed DSM-IV criteria for substance use disorders have included, as an option, a subtyping for physiologic dependence, characterized by either tolerance or withdrawal. Even if this option is not chosen at this stage of system revision, this weighting scheme justifies wider surveillance of these symptoms, especially for the more newly described cocaine dependence disorder. Wider surveillance of withdrawal is possible with the CIDI Substance Abuse Module (SAM), a WHO/ADAMHA diagnostic interview which covers criteria of substance use disorders according to the DSM-III, III-R, ICD-10 and proposed DSM-IV systems.

Evidence for a functional subclass of the RTVL-H family of human endogenous retrovirus-like sequences.

We report the discovery of a subgroup of RTVL-H human endogenous retroviral elements, designated RTVL-Hp, that is intact in the pol region which is deleted in the vast majority of RTVL-H elements. As a consequence, RTVL-Hp elements contain critical functional domains in their pol region that other RTVL-H elements lack. We estimate that the haploid genomes of humans, apes, and Old World monkeys contain 50 to 100 copies of RTVL-Hp elements and 800 to 1,000 deleted sequences.

Splicing of a human endogenous retrovirus to a novel phospholipase A2 related gene.

As part of an investigation into the effects of endogenous retroviruses on adjacent genes, we have isolated a cDNA clone derived from the human teratocarcinoma cell line NTera2D1 representing a chimeric transcript in which an endogenous retrovirus-like element, RTVL-H, has been spliced to downstream cellular sequences. The 5' terminus of this clone, termed AF-5, occurs one bp downstream of the predicted transcriptional start site in the RTVL-H long terminal repeat (LTR). AF-5 contains an open reading frame of 689 amino acids beginning within RTVL-H sequences that has two domains of homology with phospholipase A2 (PLA2).

A human endogenous long terminal repeat provides a polyadenylation signal to a novel, alternatively spliced transcript in normal placenta.

We have been investigating the impact that the long terminal repeats (LTRs) of the RTVL-H family of human endogenous retroviral-like elements may have on the expression of adjacent cellular genes. Using a differential hybridization strategy, we have screened a cDNA library from a normal full-term human placenta and have identified two clones containing non-RTVL-H-related cellular sequences that have been polyadenylated within an RTVL-H LTR. One of these clones, cPj-LTR, contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 223 amino acids.

Strategy for detecting cellular transcripts promoted by human endogenous long terminal repeats: identification of a novel gene (CDC4L) with homology to yeast CDC4.

Several families of repetitive sequences related to integrated retroviruses have been identified in the human genome. The largest of these families, the RTVL-H family, has close to 1000 members in addition to a similar number of solitary long terminal repeats (LTRs) dispersed on all chromosomes. Previous work has shown that the expression of genomic RTVL-H elements is driven by their LTRs and that some LTRs can promote expression of a reporter gene.