[Electroencephalographic examination in alcohol dependents].

It has been reported that electroencephalographic (EEG) examinations of alcohol dependents reveal a few abnormal findings. However, we show abnormal findings in 47 (64%) of 73 alcohol dependents in whom disturbance of consciousness, convulsions, disturbance of memory, emotional disorders and hallucination were present. Our results indicate that EEG examination may be necessary for real time assessment of brain function in alcoholism.

Identification and characterization of intervening sequences within 23S rRNA genes from more than 200 Campylobacter isolates from seven species including atypical campylobacters.

Background: Identification and characterization of intervening sequences (IVSs) within 23S rRNA genes from Campylobacter organisms including atypical campylobacters were carried out using two PCR primer pairs, designed to generate helix 25 and 45 regions.

Results: Only C. sputorum biovar sputorum LMG7975 and fecalis LMG8531, LMG8534 and LMG6728 of a total of 204 Campylobacter isolates (n = 56 C.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of local inhabitants about insecticide treated nets (ITNs) for malaria control in an endemic area of Ethiopia.

Objective: The present study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of local residents about insecticide treated nets (ITNs) for malaria control in an endemic area of Ethiopia.

Methods: A descriptive cross-survey was conducted from July 2008 to September 2008. A structured questionnaire collecting sociodemographic, ITNs and malaria-related KAP information was administered to the representatives of households.

[Serotonin receptor gene polymorphism and analgesic sensitivity].

There are gene polymorphisms changing the expression or activation of the serotonin (5-HT) receptors, which are associated with pain. This review showed an availability of 5-HT2A receptor gene polymorphism in analgesic sensitivity. To search gene polymorphisms related to analgesic sensitivity is important to further effective pain management.

Structural analysis of the full-length gene encoding a fibronectin-binding-like protein (CadF) and its adjacent genetic loci within Campylobacter lari.

Background: The combined sequences encoding a partial and putative rpsI open reading frame (ORF), non-coding (NC) region, a putative ORF for the Campylobacter adhesin to fibronectin-like protein (cadF), a putative Cla_0387 ORF, NC region and a partial and putative Cla_0388 ORF, were identified in 16 Campylobacter lari isolates, using two novel degenerate primer pairs. Probable consensus sequence at the -35 and -10 regions were identified in all C. lari isolates, as a promoter.

Campylobacter lari: molecular and comparative analyses of the virulence-associated chromosome locus J (vacJ) gene homologue, including the promoter region.

Following TA cloning and sequencing with a novel in silico-designed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer pair (f-ClvacJ/r-ClvacJ), approximately 750 base pairs (bp) of promoter and structural gene regions for vacJ and its adjacent genetic loci (approximately 1.14 kbp) were identified in 20 isolates of Campylobacter lari (urease-negative C. lari [n=7]; urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter [n=13]).

A stepwise regression analysis on under-five diarrhoael morbidity prevalence in Nekemte town, western Ethiopia: maternal care giving and hygiene behavioral determinants.

Objective: Various studies have addressed the relationship between maternal care giving behaviours including hygiene behaviours and the occurrence of diarrhoea in children. However, very few studies have done in Ethiopia in general and none exist in Nekemte town, western Ethiopia. Therefore, the present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of under-five diarrhoea morbidity in relation to mothers/care takers behaviours including hygiene behavioural determinants.

Molecular characterization of the sequences of the 16S-23S rDNA internal spacer region (ISR) from isolates of Taylorella asinigenitalis.

Background: Sequence information on the 16S-23S rDNA internal spacer region (ISR) exhibits a large degree of sequence and length variation at both the genus and species levels. A primer pair for the amplification of 16S-23S rDNA ISR generated three amplicons for each of isolates of Taylorella asinigenitalis (UCD-1T, UK-1 and UK-2).

Findings: Following TA cloning and sequencing, the three isolates of T.

[Correlation analyses of ALDH2 and CYP2E1 genetic polymorphism with personality].

We examined relationship of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2E1 genetic polymorphism with personality. After written informed consent was obtained, each polymorphism was determined by PCR-RFLP, and personality assessment was evaluated by NEO-FFI, among 181 health university students. There was no significant relationship between ALDH2 and personality.

Cloning and structural analysis of the full-length cytolethal distending toxin (cdt) gene operon from Campylobacter lari.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons (approximately 2.5 kbp) encoding a cdt gene operon and two partial and putative open reading frames (ORFs) were identified in six urease-negative (UN) Campylobacter lari isolates using a new PCR primer pair constructed in silico. Three closely spaced and putative ORFs for cdtA, cdtB and cdtC, two putative promoters and a hypothetically intrinsic p-independent transcription terminator were found in the operon.

Genetic heterogeneity of the dnaK gene locus including transcription terminator region (TTR) in Campylobacter lari.

Nucleotide sequences of approximately 3.1 kbp consisting of the full-length open reading frame (ORF) for grpE, a non-coding (NC) region and a putative ORF for the full-length dnaK gene (1860 bp) were identified from a urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter (UPTC) CF89-12 isolate. Then, following the construction of a new degenerate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer pair for amplification of the dnaK structural gene, including the transcription terminator region of C.

Molecular characterisation of urease genes from urease-positive thermophilic campylobacters (UPTC).

This study aims to clarify the molecular characteristics of the urease gene operon from urease-positive thermophilic campylobacters (UPTC) obtained from different sources and in various countries. Sequence heterogeneity was observed for the promoter structures at the -35-like region among the 12 isolates examined. The most probable TTG start codon was suggested for the ureB and ureH genes, and for the ureA, E, F and G genes, ATG was suggested among all the isolates examined.

Intervening sequences in 23S rRNA genes and 23S rRNA fragmentation in Taylorella asinigenitalis UCD-1(T) strain.

PCR was performed with Taylorella asinigenitalis UCD-1(T) using two primer pairs constructed in silico for the amplification of the intervening sequences (IVSs) in the first quarter and central regions of the 23S rRNA gene. Following TA cloning and sequencing, the strain was identified to carry heterogeneous and multiple IVSs. Two similar tandem repeat units of 25 and 24 base pairs (bp) with unknown function(s) were identified within the two IVSs in the central region.

Cloning, sequencing and molecular characterisation of a cryptic plasmid from a urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter (UPTC) isolate.

Cloning, sequencing and molecular characterisation of a cryptic plasmid, pUPTC237, from a urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter (UPTC) isolate obtained from the natural environment in Northern Ireland is reported in this study. Based on the determined DNA sequence, the pUPTC237 DNA was identified as a circular molecule of 3828 bp with a G+C content of 29.5%.

Cloning, sequencing and characterization of a urease gene operon from urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter (UPTC).

Aims: To clone, sequence and characterize the genetic organization of urease genes within urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter (UPTC).

Methods And Results: An approx. 5.

Molecular characterization of the non-coding promoter and leader regions and full-length 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene of Taylorella asinigenitalis.

The 3,339 base pair (bp) sequences encoding a putative open reading frame (ORF), non-coding promoter and leader regions (approximately 320 bp), full-length 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene (approximate 1,540 bp) and part of the 16S-23S rDNA internal spacer region (ISR) were determined from genome DNA libraries of the Taylorella asinigenitalis (UK-1) isolate. The non-coding promoter and leader regions included antiterminators (boxB, boxA and boxC) immediately upstream of the 16S rRNA gene sequence. An approximately 680 bp region upstream of the non-coding promoter region appears to contain a putative ORF with high sequence similarity to GTP cyclohydrolase I.

Novel conformation-sensitive antibodies specific to three- and four-repeat tau.

Two types of tau isoform, three- and four-repeat tau, are found in neurofibrillary tangles--a pathological hallmark of tauopathies. Which isoform is deposited in the affected tissues depends on the tauopathy. To study how and which tau isoforms contribute to neuronal degeneration, we have developed and characterized two novel conformation-sensitive antibodies, T3R and T4R.

Molecular characterization of the full-length 23S and 5S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes of Taylorella asinigenitalis.

An approximately 4.2 kbp region encoding 23S and 5S rRNA genes was identified when recombinant plasmid DNAs from two genomic DNA libraries and an inverse PCR product of Taylorella asinigenitalis UK-1 isolate were analyzed. Full-length genes of 23S rRNA (3,225 bp) and 5S rRNA (117 bp) of T.

Flagellin gene structure of flaA and flaB and adjacent gene loci in urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter (UPTC).

Two flagellin gene (flaA and flaB) sequences and the adjacent gene loci of urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter (UPTC)(1) were examined. The flagellin gene sequences (1.7 kb) and adjacent gene loci of the two UPTC isolates (89049 and A3), obtained from animal hosts, were very similar to those of C.

Demonstration of the shorter flagellin (flaA) gene of urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter isolated from the natural environment in Northern Ireland.

The PCR amplicons (about 1450 bp in length) of flaA gene fragments of 11 isolates of urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter (UPTC) isolated from the natural environment not including wild birds in Northern Ireland were demonstrated to be shorter than those of C. jejuni 81116 and six isolates of C. jejuni and C.

First restriction and genetic mapping of the genomic DNA of urease-positive thermophilic campylobacters (UPTC), and small restriction fragment sequencing.

A restriction and genetic map of urease-positive thermophilic campylobacter (UPTC) CF89-12 genome DNA is constructed using a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis procedure after digestion with SalI and SmaI and Southern blot hybridisation. Each of the six gene fragments (flaA, glyA, lysS, recA, sodB and ureAB) selected are mapped in only a fragment on the restriction map. Three DNA fragments for rrn operon probes are mapped in multiple regions on the map.

Genetic heterogeneity of urease gene loci in urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter (UPTC).

Degenerate PCR primers in silico based on the two urease structural genes, ureA and ureB, were designed for urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter (UPTC). Resultant PCR amplification employing these primers generated an amplicon of approximately 2kb, which was cloned and sequenced in UPTC (n=12) isolated from various parts of Europe and Japan. Overall, sequence similarities were shown to be 96.

Nucleotide sequencing and analysis of 16S rDNA and 16S-23S rDNA internal spacer region (ISR) of Taylorella equigenitalis, as an important pathogen for contagious equine metritis (CEM).

The primer set for 16S rDNA amplified an amplicon of about 1500 bp in length for three strains of Taylorella equigenitalis (NCTC11184(T), Kentucky188 and EQ59). Sequence differences of the 16S rDNA among the six sequences, including three reference sequences, occurred at only a few nucleotide positions and thus, an extremely high sequence similarity of the 16S rDNA was first demonstrated among the six sequences. In addition, the primer set for 16S-23S rDNA internal spacer region (ISR) amplified two amplicons about 1300 bp and 1200 bp in length for the three strains.