Two quality control exercises involving nucleic acid amplification methods for detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae and carried out 2 years apart (in 2002 and 2004).

The quality performance of laboratories for the detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae by two quality control (QC) exercises with a 2-year interval was investigated. For the 2002 QC exercise, specimens were spiked with M. pneumoniae at concentrations of 5,000, 500, 50, and 0 color-changing units (CCU)/100 microl.

Bromodeoxyuridine DNA fiber technology in plants: replication origins and DNA synthesis in tobacco BY-2 cells under prolonged treatment with aphidicolin.

Newly synthesized DNA can be observed on chromosomes or extended chromatin fibers after incorporation and immunodetection of bromodeoxyuridine. This technique, frequently used in animal cells, was adapted for use in BY-2 cells. For the first time, the origins of replication in plant cells could be visualized and monitored on DNA fibers without the use of radioactive traces.

Immunological evidence for the presence of plant homologues of the actin- related protein Arp3 in tobacco and maize: subcellular localization to actin-enriched pit fields and emerging root hairs.

The actin-nucleating and -organizing Arp2/3 protein complex is well known to be conserved throughout the eukaryotic kingdom. For higher plants, however, only limited evidence is available for the presence of the Arp2/3 complex so far. Using heterologous antibodies against the Dictyostelium discoideum and Schizosaccharomyces pombe proteins and a bovine peptide, we found immunological evidence for the presence of Arp3 homologues in plants.

The evolution of immune defense and song complexity in birds.

There are three main hypotheses that explain how the evolution of parasite virulence could be linked to the evolution of secondary sexual traits, such as bird song. First, as Hamilton and Zuk proposed a role for parasites in sexual selection, female preference for healthy males in heavily parasitized species may result in extravagant trait expression. Second, a reverse causal mechanism may act, if sexual selection affects the coevolutionary dynamics of host-parasite interactions per se by selecting for increased virulence.

Rat C6 glioma as experimental model system for the study of glioblastoma growth and invasion.

Infiltration of the central nervous system by neoplastic cells in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) leads to neurological dysfunction and eventually to death. The elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the aggressive nature of GBM aims at improving radio-, chemo- and gene therapy. This review is focused on the use of rat C6 glioma as an experimental model system for GBM and provides an overview of the experimental data published in the literature using this cell line in elucidating the mechanism of tumor growth, angiogenesis and invasion, and in the design and evaluation of anticancer therapies.

Presence of cellular renin-angiotensin system in chromaffin cells of bovine adrenal medulla.

The presence of a local renin-angiotensin system has been established in organs that serve as angiotensin targets. In this study, the expression of angiotensinogen mRNA and subcellular localization of renin, angiotensin-converting enzyme, and angiotensin II were investigated in bovine adrenal medullary cells in primary culture. By light microscopy, expression of angiotensinogen mRNA, immunoreactive renin, angiotensin-converting enzyme, and angiotensin II were readily detectable only in the chromaffin cells.

Epidemiology of hepatitis C in Belgium: present and future.

Based on currently available epidemiological data, Belgium appears to belong to the low endemicity countries for hepatitis C, with an estimated annual incidence of 3/100,000 clinical cases; a survey among the Flemish population showed an overall seroprevalence of 0.87% (1993-1994). There was no statistically significant difference in anti-HCV prevalence between men and women.

Miglitol combined with metformin improves glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy and safety of miglitol vs. placebo in type 2 diabetic outpatients insufficiently controlled (HbA1c between 7.5 and 10.

Agonists of the P2Y(AC)-receptor activate MAP kinase by a ras-independent pathway in rat C6 glioma.

We have previously shown that an ecto-NPPase modulates the ATP- and ADP-mediated P2Y(AC)-receptor activation in rat C6 glioma. In the present study, 2MeSADP and Ap(3)A induced no detectable PI turnover and were identified as specific agonists of the P2Y(AC)-receptor with EC(50) values of 250 +/- 37 pM and 1 +/- 0.5 microM, respectively.

Protein tyrosine kinase-dependent regulation of adenylate cyclase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activates the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein upon induction of differentiation in rat c6 glioma.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is expressed upon cAMP-mediated induction of differentiation of glial progenitor cells into type II astrocytes. The protein is regulated by hormones, growth factors and cytokines but the signal transduction pathways involved in the regulation of GFAP expression are largely unknown. Specific protein kinase inhibitors were used to study their effect on the expression of GFAP in rat C6 glioma cells.

Molecular characterisation of group A streptococci from invasive and non-invasive disease episodes in Belgium during 1993-1994.

Five hundred clinical group A streptococcal (GAS) isolates were collected in Belgium during the period 1 Nov. 1993 to 31 Oct. 1994.

Ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase modulates the purinoceptor-mediated signal transduction and is inhibited by purinoceptor antagonists.

1. The effect of ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase (ecto-NPPase; EC 3.6.

Purification of rat C6 glioma plasma membranes by affinity partitioning.

We have studied the feasibility of purifying rat C6 glioma plasma membranes by a phase partitioning approach. The purification procedure involves cell homogenization and fractionation with an aqueous two-phase polymer system followed by selective affinity purification of plasma membranes by a wheat germ agglutinin-coupled polymer system. We demonstrate that the two-phase affinity partitioning technique is a simple and efficient method of isolating cell plasma membranes with high purity and yield.

Macrolide resistance and erythromycin resistance determinants among Belgian Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates.

Resistance of streptococci to macrolide antibiotics is caused by target-site modification or drug efflux. The phenotypic expression of target-site modification can be inducible or constitutive. The prevalence of the three phenotypes among Belgian erythromycin-resistant Group A streptococci (GAS) and Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates was surveyed, their MICs for seven antibiotics were determined and the clonality of the isolates was explored.

Factors determining the place of palliative care and death of cancer patients.

Factors determining the place of palliative care and death were studied by interviewing 40 patients using a semi-structured questionnaire. The 86 interviews assessed showed that both emotional and somatic factors played a part in the determination of whether patients were transferred and of their place of death. Emotional factors were mentioned in 41% as being of importance, and physical factors in 32%.

Sexual competition in a group of captive bonobos (Pan paniscus).

We describe the occurrence of sexual competition, expressed as harassment of sexual interactions in a captive group of bonobos. We monitored all aggressive and pestering interventions during sexual interactions of three captive adult females, one adolescent, and three adult males. The study period covered two complete menstrual cycles for each female, with continuous daily observations.

Prevalence and molecular epidemiology of glycopeptide-resistant enterococci in Belgian renal dialysis units.

The molecular epidemiology of glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE) colonizing the intestinal tracts of Belgian renal dialysis patients was studied among 1318 patients of a population of 1800 dialysis patients from 29 dialysis centers. Of these, 185 patients (14.0%) were colonized with a VANA-positive GRE; GRE harboring the VANB gene were not detected.

[Safety measures for handling laboratory specimen and patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease].

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a transmissible subacute spongiform encephalopathy that invariably leads to death. The presumed causative agent, the prion protein, is highly resistant to inactivation and has a long incubation period. Physical contact with CJD patients (as in clinical care) entails no risk of transmission.

Comparison of glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates and glycopeptide resistance genes of human and animal origins.

One hundred thirty-two glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium (GREF) isolates from different hospitals and pig and poultry farms in Belgium were compared on the basis of (i) their antibiotic susceptibilities, (ii) their SmaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns, and (iii) the organization of their Tn1546 or related elements in order to detect possible phenotypic and genotypic relationships among both groups of isolates. Human and animal vanA-positive GREF isolates were found to have similar susceptibility patterns; they remained susceptible to gentamicin and were, in general, susceptible to ampicillin. PFGE demonstrated a very high degree of genomic heterogeneity in both groups of isolates.

Diagnosis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma detecting T-cell receptor gamma chain gene monoclonality by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas represent a group of malignant lymphoproliferative disorders characterised by the occurrence of a monoclonal population of T-lymphocytes. Diagnosis of early stages of this disease is a difficult challenge for both the dermatologist and the dermatopathologist. With the aid of the polymerase chain reaction it is possible to amplify specific regions of the T-cell receptor gamma gene.

An ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase is one of the main enzymes involved in the extracellular metabolism of ATP in rat C6 glioma.

The presence of a nucleotide pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.