Performance of the OraQuick rapid antibody test for diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in patients with various levels of exposure to highly active antiretroviral therapy.

With oral mucosal transudate and serum samples from 101 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected subjects and 100 HIV-1-negative volunteers, the OraQuick HIV-1 test demonstrated 100% specificity and 96% sensitivity. Four false-negative subjects, who were characterized by early initiation of effective antiretroviral therapy, demonstrated waning serum anti-gp41 titers and Western blot band intensities.

Toll-like receptor 3 mediates a more potent antiviral response than Toll-like receptor 4.

We have recently described an IFN regulatory factor 3-mediated antiviral gene program that is induced by both Toll-like receptor (TLR)3 and TLR4 ligands. In our current study, we show that activation of IFN/viral response gene expression in primary macrophage cells is stronger and prolonged with TLR3 stimulation compared with that of TLR4. Our data also reveal that the cytoplasmic tails of both TLR3 and TLR4 can directly interact with myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88).

An approach to object-relational mapping in bioscience domains.

Object-relational mapping (mapping object-oriented software systems to relational databases) remains a challenging undertaking because of the inherent differences between these two technologies. Effective application of this technique in biomedical informatics applications can provide robust, adaptive solutions but requires careful attention to specific issues in the bioscience domain. Mapping from a single, fixed, stably defined object to a table is straightforward, and several standard patterns have been described for mapping inheritance trees to tables.

IRF3 mediates a TLR3/TLR4-specific antiviral gene program.

We have identified a subset of genes that is specifically induced by stimulation of TLR3 or TLR4 but not by TLR2 or TLR9. Further gene expression analyses established that upregulation of several primary response genes was dependent on NF-kappaB, commonly activated by several TLRs, and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), which was found to confer TLR3/TLR4 specificity. Also identified was a group of secondary response genes which are part of an autocrine/paracrine loop activated by the primary response gene product, interferon beta (IFNbeta).

Localization of melanin in conidia of Alternaria alternata using phage display antibodies.

Melanins derived from 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) are important for the pathogenicity and survival of fungi causing disease in both plants and animals. However, precise information on their location within fungal cell walls is lacking. To obtain antibodies for the immunocytochemical localization of melanin, 83 phage antibodies binding to 1,8-DHN were selected from a naive semisynthetic single-chain Fv (scFv) phage display library.

Differences in cardiac procedures among patients in metropolitan and non-metropolitan hospitals in New South Wales after acute myocardial infarction and angina.

An observational cohort study examined the difference in use of cardiac procedures during and after hospital admission for acute chest pain in 47 metropolitan or non-metropolitan hospitals across New South Wales (NSW). There were 3836 patients, represented by 4151 admissions to hospital after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), unstable angina or other angina. Follow up at 22 months was completed on 1695 patients.

Sibling pairs with affective disorders: resemblance of demographic and clinical features.

Background: As part of a collaborative linkage study, the authors obtained clinical and demographic data on 160 families in which more than one sibling was affected with a bipolar illness. The aim of the study was to identify clinical characteristics that had a high degree of familiality.

Method: Data on age at onset, gender, frequency of illness-episodes and proportion of manic to depressive episodes were examined to determine intra-pair correlations in affected sibling pairs.

The Wellcome trust UK-Irish bipolar affective disorder sibling-pair genome screen: first stage report.

We have completed the first stage of a two-stage genome wide screen designed to identify chromosomal regions that may harbour susceptibility genes for bipolar affective disorder. The first stage screening sample included 509 subjects from 151 nuclear families recruited within the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. This sample contained 154 narrowly defined affected sibling pairs (DSM-IV BPI) and 258 broadly defined affected sibling pairs (DSM-IV BPI, SABP, BPII, BPNOS or MDD(R)), approximately two thirds of all families contained at least one other additional typed individual.

Isolation and characterization of the activated B-cell factor 1 homolog in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Members of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors regulate a wide array of developmental processes in many cell types, including cell fate specification, differentiation and morphogenesis. Our studies describe the cloning of a gene from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that is closely related to the vertebrate-activated B-cell factor (ABF) gene. The nematode gene product CeABF-1 was detected by northern blot analysis from RNA isolated from pooled nematodes representing different developmental stages.

Characterization of a basic helix-loop-helix protein, ABF-1: nuclear localization, transcriptional properties, and interaction with Id-2.

The activated B-cell factor (ABF)-1 cDNA was initially isolated from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected B cells and codes for a DNA-binding protein belonging to the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors. In this study, we characterized the nuclear localization signal of ABF-1, mapped two distinct transcriptional repression domains, and identified one ABF-1-interacting protein, Id-2. By examining the subcellular location of deletion mutants of ABF-1 fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP), critical regions involved in nuclear localization were determined.

Cigarette smoking and psychotic symptoms in bipolar affective disorder.

Background: An association exists between smoking and schizophrenia, independent of other factors and related to psychotic symptomatology.

Aims: To determine whether smoking is associated with psychosis in bipolar affective disorder.

Method: Smoking data were collected from 92 unrelated patients with bipolar affective disorder.

Trends in the hospital management of unstable angina.

Study Objective: To examine the hospital management of unstable angina (UAP) in 1996 and 1998, according to patient demographic variables and disease severity.

Design: Medical record review.

Setting: 37 hospitals across New South Wales, Australia, representative of the secondary and tertiary care hospitals in the State.

Randomised controlled trial to change the hospital management of unstable angina.

Objectives: To examine the benefits of a guideline-based educational program to improve management of unstable angina pectoris (UAP) in hospital patients.

Design: Randomised controlled trial.

Setting: 37 public hospitals across New South Wales.

Induction of c-fos in hamster accessory olfactory bulbs by natural and cloned aphrodisin.

Male hamsters were exposed to the female pheromone, aphrodisin (APH), its cloned protein backbone (rAPH), and the homologous lipocalin, beta-lactoglobulin (beta-LG). Of these, only APH elicited mating behavior. Enhanced c-fos protein was found in the nuclei of neurons in the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) after exposure to these stimuli.

Production of extracellular matrices during development of infection structures by the downy mildew Peronospora parasitica.

•  Differences are shown here in the structure and composition of the extracellular matrices surrounding conidia, germ-tubes and appressoria of the downy mildew Peronospora parasitica, which is a serious pathogen of several cultivated Brassica spp. •  The extracellular matrices of germlings growing in vitro (glass and polycarbonate substrata) were investigated using freeze-substitution transmission electron microscopy, lectin cytochemistry and immunogold labelling. •  The cell surface carbohydrates present on P.

Responses of olfactory receptor neurons in Utetheisa ornatrix to gender-specific odors.

We recorded the electrophysiological responses of individual olfactory receptor neurons in sensilla trichodea on the antennae of adult arctiid moths, Utetheisa ornatrix, to stimulation with volatiles associated with both sexes. All trichoid sensilla contain at least two receptor neurons, each with distinct action potential amplitudes and waveforms, that respond dichotomously to male and female odors. Although, neither female neuron responds to extracts of coremata or the male-produced pheromone hydroxydanaidal, they do respond in a gender-specific manner to the volatiles emanating from whole pupae, hemolymph, thoracic froth, and adult animals of several ages.

Immunomagnetic purification of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum appressoria.

We developed a method to purify appressoria of the bean anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum for biochemical analysis of the cell surface and to compare appressoria with other fungal structures. We used immunomagnetic separation after incubation of infected bean leaf homogenates with a monoclonal antibody that binds strongly to the appressoria. Preparations with a purity of >90% could be obtained.

Standardisation of subjectively scored HIV immunoassays: developing a quality assurance program to assist in reproducible interpretation of results using an anti-HIV particle agglutination assay as a model.

Immunoassays such as particle agglutination assays, rapid tests and western or line blots are scored or read subjectively. These readings display intra- and inter-reader variability, as well as intra- and inter-laboratory variability. In the present study the consistency of scoring was assessed between readers both within and between two groups of scientists using the Serodia anti-HIV particle agglutination assay as an example of an assay scored subjectively.

Mortality after acute myocardial infarction is lower in metropolitan regions than in non-metropolitan regions.

Study Objectives: To compare in-hospital mortality for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) between metropolitan and non-metropolitan hospitals after adjustment for patients' severity; to examine the role of the use of effective cardiac medications in the possible mortality difference between these types of hospital.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: 47 acute public hospitals in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas of New South Wales, Australia, taking part in the Acute Cardiac Care Project based on medical record review.

The distribution and expression of a biotrophy-related gene, CIH1, within the genus Colletotrichum.

Abstract During the biotrophic phase of the infection process of the hemibiotrophic anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, an intracellular hypha develops within epidermal cells of its host, Phaseolus vulgaris. This is followed by the formation of secondary hyphae during the necrotrophic phase. Previous work using a monoclonal antibody, UB25, has identified a glycoprotein that is specific to the interfacial matrix that forms between the wall of the intracellular hypha and the invaginated host plasma membrane.

Utility of the Charlson comorbidity index computed from routinely collected hospital discharge diagnosis codes.

This study aims to determine whether the Charlson comorbidity index computed from ICD-9-CM discharge diagnosis codes adds additional information to a model containing adjustment for more informed patient details (e.g., disease severity and history), besides solely age and sex, when predicting long-term survival.

Stated and actual management of acute myocardial infarction among different specialties.

Objectives: To examine the variation in stated management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) among clinicians of different specialties, and to compare stated with actual practice.

Design: Mail survey using a hypothetical case history, and review of medical records.

Setting: 47 public hospitals in New South Wales.

Variation in in-patient stroke management in ten centres in different countries: the INCLEN multicentre stroke collaboration.

Background And Purpose: Large within-country variations have been described in stroke management and there have been a few studies of between-country variation (in the USA and the UK). We designed a study to examine stroke management across a wide range of countries representing different stages of economic development. Large variations would suggest the need to explore methods of increasing the uptake of evidence-based stroke practice.

Spore surface glycoproteins of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum are recognized by a monoclonal antibody which inhibits adhesion to polystyrene.

Conidia (spores) of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, a fungal plant pathogen causing bean anthracnose, adhere to the aerial parts of host plants to initiate the infection process. These spores possess a fibrillar 'spore coat' as well as a cell wall. In a previous study a mAb, UB20, was raised that recognized glycoproteins on the spore surface.