Factors influencing the sensitivity of herpes simplex virus detection in clinical specimens in a simultaneous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using monoclonal antibodies

A rapid simultaneous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using monoclonal antibodies was investigated for herpes simplex virus (HSV) detection. All HSV isolated (n = 127) were detected, whereas no response was obtained with HSV negative preparations. Equivalent results were obtained from 275 of 277 clinical specimens in the monoclonal ELISA and in an ELISA using polyclonal antibodies, confirming that appropriately selected monoclonal antibodies may be as efficacious as polyclonal antibodies in antibody-based assays. In clinical specimens, the rate of HSV detection (sensitivity) relative to tissue culture isolation was low for both assays, and the major factor responsible for this was the low concentration of virus present in some specimens. The sensitivity of ELISA obtained in routine use varied with different panels of unselected specimens and was related to the speed of development of the cytopathic effect. These results emphasise the need for caution in assigning a definitive sensitivity level to ELISA tests evaluated on different panels of specimens.     

Reduced concentrations of selenium in mild Crohn''s disease.

The concentrations of selenium, zinc, and copper were determined in whole blood, plasma, and leucocytes in 20 patients with relatively mild Crohn's disease, nine of whom were being treated with steroids, and compared with those of a control group. There was a significant decrease in the concentration of selenium in the leucocytes as well as in whole blood and plasma in the patients. Steroids seemed to affect only the concentrations of zinc and copper in plasma. The concentrations of copper and zinc in whole blood, plasma, and leucocytes in patients not taking steroids were not significantly different from those of the control group. The observations suggest that those patients with an apparently satisfactory whole body concentration of copper and zinc may still be at risk of a decrease in the body content of selenium.     

Activity-dependent control of bulk endocytosis by protein dephosphorylation in central nerve terminals

Bulk endocytosis is the process by which nerve terminals retrieve large amounts of synaptic vesicle membrane during periods of strong stimulation intensity. The process is rapidly activated and is most probably calcium dependent in a similar manner to synaptic vesicle exocytosis. This article briefly summarizes the current knowledge of bulk endocytosis with respect to its activation, kinetics and molecular mechanism. It also presents recent data from our laboratory showing that the dephosphorylation of a group of endocytosis proteins called the dephosphins by the Ca²⁺-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin is key to the activity-dependent stimulation of the process. Possible downstream effectors of calcineurin are discussed such as the large GTPase dynamin I and its phosphorylation-dependent interaction partner syndapin I.     

Infertility in the third millennium: implications for the individual, family and society: condensed meeting report from the Bertarelli Foundation's second global conference

Primary infertility is a key issue in the developed world, while the developing world has high rates of secondary infertility. The impact of HIV/AIDS on fertility is insufficiently explored. One of the most important barriers to access to infertility treatment is cost; at the same time the role of social and cultural factors in restricting access should not be underestimated. IVF has become the standard therapy for female infertility, and ICSI for infertility of the male partner. However, the use of these therapies should not be initiated without a thorough investigation and, whenever possible, individual diagnosis of the underlying causes of infertility. Multiple gestation remains one of the most challenging and controversial issues in the treatment of infertility. Current IVF practices are often blamed for this; in this respect, attention should also be focused on the role of ovarian stimulation in ovulation induction. National guidelines and national registries for assisted reproductive technology (ART) are becoming more widespread and are expected to play an important role in promoting best practice in ART in the future.     

The relationship of childhood sexual abuse and depression with somatic symptoms and medical utilization

BACKGROUND: Previous research suggests that childhood sexual abuse is associated with high rates of retrospectively reported medical utilization and medical problems as an adult. The goal of this study was to determine if abused females have higher rates of medical utilization using self-report and objective measures, compared with non-abused females. A further goal was to determine whether findings of prior research would be replicated when childhood physical abuse level was controlled. This study also examined the moderating impact of depressed mood on current health measures in this population. METHODS: Six hundred and eight women recruited from a health maintenance organization completed self-report measures of health symptoms for the previous month and doctor visits for the previous year. Objective doctor records over a 2 year period were examined for a subset of 136 of these women. RESULTS: Results showed significantly more self-reported health symptoms and more self-reported doctor visits in abused participants compared with those who reported no childhood history of sexual abuse. Objective doctor visits demonstrated the same pattern with abused participants exhibiting more visits related to out-patient surgery and out-patient internal medicine. In addition, persons who were both sexually abused and depressed tended to visit the emergency room more frequently and to have more in-patient internal medicine and ophthalmology visits than sexually abused participants who reported low depressed mood and non-abused controls. CONCLUSIONS: These results replicate prior studies and suggest that current depression may moderate the relationship between sexual abuse and medical problems in adulthood.     

Messenger RNA processing sites in Trypanosoma brucei

In Kinetoplastids, protein-coding genes are transcribed polycistronically by RNA polymerase II. Individual mature mRNAs are generated from polycistronic precursors by 5' trans splicing of a 39-nt capped leader RNA and 3' polyadenylation. It was previously known that trans splicing generally occurs at an AG dinucleotide downstream of a polypyrimidine tract, and that polyadenylation is coupled to downstream trans splicing. The few polyadenylation sites that had been examined were 100-400 nt upstream of the polypyrimidine tract which marked the adjacent trans splice site. We wished to define the sequence requirements for trypanosome mRNA processing more tightly and to generate a predictive algorithm. By scanning all available Trypanosoma brucei cDNAs for splicing and polyadenylation sites, we found that trans splicing generally occurs at the first AG following a polypyrimidine tract of 8-25 nt, giving rise to 5'-UTRs of a median length of 68 nt. We also found that in general, polyadenylation occurs at a position with one or more A residues located between 80 and 140 nt from the downstream polypyrimidine tract. These data were used to calibrate free parameters in a grammar model with distance constraints, enabling prediction of polyadenylation and trans splice sites for most protein-coding genes in the trypanosome genome. The data from the genome analysis and the program are available from: .