Diagnostic relevance of simultaneous testing for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlamydia trachomatis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neisseria gonorrhoeae</Emphasis>

Background  

The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infection in a Swiss cohort among individuals consulting for screening or symptomatic reasons is not very well known.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Coxiella burnetii</Emphasis> vascular graft infection

Background  

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, may cause culture-negative vascular graft infections. Very few cases of C. burnetii infection of a vascular graft have been reported. All were diagnosed by serology.     

Gene Transfer of <Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">met</Emphasis> Confers Protection Against <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-Galactosamine/Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Liver Failure

Background  

Acute liver failure (ALF) is characterized by impaired regeneration of hepatocytes, partially resulting from the defective signaling between elevated levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and the downregulation of its receptor, c-met.     

Infection with Specific <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">cag</Emphasis> Pathogenicity Island Strains Is Associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Interleukin-1B</Emphasis> Gene Polymorphisms in Venezuelan Chronic Gastritis Patients

Background  

The cag pathogenicity island (cag-PAI) is one of the major virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori, showing considerable geographic variation.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">ARNTL2</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">SERPINE1</Emphasis>: potential biomarkers for tumor aggressiveness in colorectal cancer

Purpose  

Cathepsin and plasmin may favor cancer cell invasion degrading extracellular matrix. Plasmin formation from plasminogen is regulated by plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1). ARNTL2 activates the promoters of the PAI-1 gene, officially called SERPINE1, driving the circadian variation in circulating PAI-1 levels.     

Predominant <Emphasis Type="Italic">porB1A</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">porB1B</Emphasis> genotypes and correlation of gene mutations with drug resistance in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neisseria gonorrhoeae</Emphasis> isolates in Eastern China

Background  

Variations of porB1A and porB1B genes and their serotypes exist in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from different geographical areas, and some site mutations in the porB1B gene correlate with drug resistance.     

Alterations of tumor suppressor gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">p16</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">INK4a</Emphasis></Superscript>in pancreatic ductal carcinoma

Background  

Cell cycle inhibitor and tumor suppressor gene p16 / MTS-1 has been reported to be altered in a variety of human tumors. The purpose of the study was to evaluate primary pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas for potentially inactivating p16 alterations.     

Modulation of hepatic PPAR expression during <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ft</Emphasis> LVS LPS-induced protection from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Francisella tularensis</Emphasis> LVS infection

Background  

It has been shown previously that administration of Francisella tularensis (Ft) Live Vaccine Strain (LVS) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) protects mice against subsequent challenge with Ft LVS and blunts the pro-inflammatory cytokine response.     

Survey of general practitioners' knowledge about <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> infection

Background  

Helicobacter pylori, occurring throughout the world and causing gastroduodenal diseases, is one of the most common chronic bacterial agents in humans. The purpose of this study was to measure the general practitioners' (GPs) knowledge and practices pertaining to H. pylori infection.     

Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> Infection on Symptoms of Gastroenteritis Due to Enteropathogenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> in Adults

Background  

Helicobacter pylori can cause hypochlorhydria in some hosts and predispose to diarrheal infections.     

Antimicrobial activity of innate immune molecules against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus pneumoniae,Moraxella catarrhalis</Emphasis> and nontypeable <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haemophilus influenzae</Emphasis>

Background  

Despite its direct connection to the nasopharynx which harbors otitis media pathogens as part of its normal flora, the middle ear cavity is kept free of these bacteria by as yet unknown mechanisms. Respiratory mucosal epithelia, including those of the middle ear and eustachian tube, secrete antimicrobial effectors including lysozyme, lactoferrin and β defensins-1 and -2. To elucidate the role of these innate immune molecules in the normal defense and maintenance of sterility of respiratory mucosa such as that of the middle ear, we assessed their effect on the respiratory pathogens nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) 12, Moraxella catarrhalis 035E, and Streptococcus pneumoniae 3, and 6B.     

On the Association Between Soft Drink Consumption and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> Infection

Background  

The association between soft drink (SD) consumption and Helicobacter pylori infection remains unclear.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ureaplasma urealyticum,Ureaplasma parvum,Mycoplasma hominis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycoplasma genitalium</Emphasis> infections and semen quality of infertile men

Background  

Genital ureaplasmas (Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum) and mycoplasmas (Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma hominis) are potentially pathogenic species playing an etiologic role in both genital infections and male infertility. Reports are, however, controversial regarding the effects of these microorganisms infections in the sperm seminological variables. This study aimed at determining the frequency of genital ureplasmas and mycoplasmas in semen specimens collected from infertile men, and at comparing the seminological variables of semen from infected and non-infected men with these microorganisms.     

IS element IS<Emphasis Type="Italic">16</Emphasis> as a molecular screening tool to identify hospital-associated strains of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enterococcus faecium</Emphasis>

Background  

Hospital strains of Enterococcus faecium could be characterized and typed by various molecular methods (MLST, AFLP, MLVA) and allocated to a distinct clonal complex known as MLST CC17. However, these techniques are laborious, time-consuming and cost-intensive. Our aim was to identify hospital E. faecium strains and differentiate them from colonizing and animal variants by a simple, inexpensive and reliable PCR-based screening assay. We describe here performance and predictive value of a single PCR detecting the insertion element, IS16, to identify hospital E. faecium isolates within a collection of 260 strains of hospital, animal and human commensal origins.     

Epidemiological,clinical, and diagnostic data on intestinal infections with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Entamoeba histolytica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Entamoeba dispar</Emphasis> among returning travelers

Background  

Among travelers returning from the tropics, Entamoeba spp. are among the most frequently detected intestinal parasites, mainly the presumable apathogenic E. dispar and the pathogenic E. histolytica.     

Common variants in <Emphasis Type="Italic">CNDP1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">CNDP2</Emphasis>, and risk of nephropathy in type 2 diabetes

Aims/hypothesis  

Several genome-wide linkage studies have shown an association between diabetic nephropathy and a locus on chromosome 18q harbouring two carnosinase genes, CNDP1 and CNDP2. Carnosinase degrades carnosine (β-alanyl-l-histidine), which has been ascribed a renal protective effect as a scavenger of reactive oxygen species. We investigated the putative associations of genetic variants in CNDP1 and CNDP2 with diabetic nephropathy (defined either as micro- or macroalbuminuria) and estimated GFR in type 2 diabetic patients from Sweden.     

Identification of an N-terminal 27 kDa fragment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycoplasma pneumoniae</Emphasis> P116 protein as specific immunogen in <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. pneumoniae</Emphasis>infections

Background  

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is an important cause of respiratory tract infection and is increasingly being associated with other diseases such as asthma and extra-pulmonary complications. Considerable cross-reactivity is known to exist between the whole cell antigens used in the commercial serological testing assays. Identification of specific antigens is important to eliminate the risk of cross-reactions among different related organisms. Adherence of M. pneumoniae to human epithelial cells is mediated through a well defined apical organelle to which a number of proteins such as P1, P30, P116 and HMW1-3 have been localized, and are being investigated for adhesion, gliding and immunodiagnostic purposes.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">GPx</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">1</Emphasis> polymorphism (rs1050450) contributes to tumor susceptibility: evidence from meta-analysis

Purpose  

Accumulating evidences implicate the selenium-containing cytosolic glutathione peroxidase, GPx-1, as a determinant of cancer risk and a mediator of the chemopreventive properties of selenium. Since the identification of a well-characterized functional polymorphism named Pro198Leu (rs1050450 C>T) in GPx-1, abundant studies have evaluated the association between Pro198Leu polymorphism and tumor risk in diverse population. But, the available results are conflicting.     

Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas luteola</Emphasis>

Background  

Pseudomonas luteola has been recognized as an uncommon cause of bacteremia and of infections in patients with underlying medical disorders