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25.9.2006 - ISI Web of Knowledge & PubMed Search Alert |
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Alcohol dependence in relation to burnout among the Finnish
working population
Ahola, K., Honkonen, T., Pirkola, S., Isometsä, E., Kalimo, R., Nykyri, E., Aromaa, A. and Lönnqvist, J. Addiction. 2006; 101(10): 1438-1443. Article. IF 3.696 Aims To investigate the relationship of burnout to alcohol dependence and high alcohol consumption. Design A cross-sectional population-based multi-disciplinary 'Health 2000 Study'. The analyses were performed separately for the women and the men and adjusted for socio-demographic factors. Setting and participants In Finland, 3276 active employees (1637 women and 1639 men), aged 30-64 years, from a representative population sample. Measurements The diagnosis of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders version IV (DSM-IV) alcohol dependence was based on the standardized Munich Composite International Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI). The assessment of high alcohol consumption was based on self-reported alcohol use. Burnout was assessed with the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS). Findings The 12-month prevalence of alcohol dependence was associated with burnout among both men and women. Each one-point increase in burnout score was associated with an 80% increase in the incidence for alcohol dependence among women and a 51% increase among men. These associations persisted when socio-demographic factors were adjusted. The associations between burnout and high alcohol consumption were not statistically significant. Conclusions There is an association between burnout and alcohol dependence among both genders. Among both women and men, attention to alcohol-related behaviour is warranted in the clinical context when burnout and other problems related to work are encountered. Interventions which include assessment of work conditions and management of work-related stress should be targeted at employees with alcohol dependence in addition to traditional treatment. Glutathione-S-transferase expression in the brain: possible role in ethanol preference and longevity Björk, K., Saarikoski, S. T., Arlinde, C., Kovanen, L., Osei-Hyiaman, D., Ubaldi, M., Reimers, M., Hyytiä, P., Heilig, M. and Sommer, W. H. Faseb Journal. 2006; 20(11): 1826-1835. Article. IF 7.064 Identification of genes that are differentially expressed in rats bidirectionally selected for alcohol preference might reveal biological mechanisms underlying alcoholism or related phenotypes. Microarray analysis from medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a key brain region for drug reward, indicated increased expression of glutathione-S-transferases of the alpha (Gsta4) and mu (Gstm1-5) classes in ethanol-preferring AA rats compared with nonpreferring ANA rats. Real-time RT polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis demonstrated similar to 2-fold higher Gsta4 transcript levels in several brain regions of ethanol-naive AA compared with ANA rats. Differences in mRNA levels were accompanied by differential levels of GSTA4 protein. We identified a novel haplotype variant in the rat Gsta4 gene, defined here as var3. Allele frequencies of var3 were markedly different between AA and ANA rats, 52% and 100%, respectively. Gsta4 expression was strongly correlated with the gene dose of var3, with similar to 60% of the variance in expression accounted for by genotype at this locus. The contribution of glutathione S-transferase expression to the ethanol-preferring phenotype is presently unclear. It could, however, underlie observed differences in life span between AA and ANA lines, prompting a utility of this animal model in aging research. - Bjork, K., Saarikoski, S. T., Arlinde, C., Kovanen, L., Osei-Hyiaman, D., Ubaldi, M., Reimers, M., Hyytia, P., Heilig, M. Sommer, W. H. Glutathione-S-transferase expression in the brain: possible role in ethanol preference and longevity. The genetic of alcoholism: learning from 50 years of research Ciccocioppo, R. and Hyytiä, P. Addiction Biology. 2006; 11(3-4): 193-194. Editorial Material. IF 1.846 Gratz, S., Taubel, M., Juvonen, R. O., Viluksela, M., Turner, P. C., Mykkänen, H. and El-Nezami, H. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2006. IF 3.818 In this study the modulation of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) uptake in rats by administration of the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus-GG (GG) was demonstrated. Fecal AFB1 excretion in GG treated rats was increased via bacterial AFB1 binding. Furthermore, AFB1 associated growth faltering and liver injury were alleviated with GG treatment. "Smoke-free class competition": Far-reaching conclusions based on weak data Hanewinkel, R., Wiborg, G., Isensee, B., Nebot, M. and Vartiainen, E. Preventive Medicine. 2006; 43(2): 150-151. Letter. IF 2.195 Hu, G., Jousilahti, P., Borodulin, K., Barengo, N. C., Lakka, T. A., Nissinen, A. and Tuomilehto, J. Atherosclerosis. 2006. IF 3.777 OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of different levels of occupational, commuting, and leisure-time physical activity with the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) events. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study comprised 47,840 Finnish participants aged 25-64 years without history of CHD and stroke at baseline. During a mean follow-up of 18.9 years, 4660 new CHD events were documented. The multivariable-adjusted (age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, education, alcohol consumption, smoking, history of diabetes, and other two types of physical activity) hazard ratios (HRs) of CHD events associated with low, moderate, and high occupational activity were 1.00, 0.87, and 0.90 (P(trend)=0.019) for men, and 1.00, 0.75, and 0.80 (P(trend)<0.001) for women, respectively. The multivariable-adjusted HRs of CHD events associated with low, moderate, and high leisure-time physical activity were 1.00, 0.95, and 0.84 (P(trend)=0.026) for men, and 1.00, 0.85, and 0.77 (P(trend)=0.003) for women, respectively. Active commuting had a significant inverse association with the risk of CHD events in women but not in men. CONCLUSION: Moderate or high levels of occupational or leisure-time physical activity are associated with a reduced risk of CHD. Daily walking or cycling to and from work is associated with a decreased risk of CHD among women. Kajantie, E., Phillips, D. I., Osmond, C., Barker, D. J., Forsen, T. and Eriksson, J. G. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006. IF 6.020 Background. The relationships of early growth with coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes have received considerable attention. It is not known whether fetal or childhood growth are linked with autoimmune disorders. Objective. To assess whether the risk of adult onset spontaneous hypothyroidism is predicted by body size at birth and during childhood. Design. Birth cohort study. Setting Helsinki, Finland. Participants. 293 women born between 1934 and 1944, who had their heights and weights at birth and during childhood recorded. Measurements. Spontaneous hypothyroidism defined as 1) a disease history confirmed from medical records, or 2) previously undiagnosed hypothyroidism (TSH>10 mU/L). Results. Twenty women (6.8%) had spontaneous hypothyroidism: 18 had been diagnosed previously, between 43 and 65 yr of age, and two had undiagnosed subclinical hypothyroidism. In addition, 59 women were TPO antibody positive. Compared with the 214 TPO antibody negative women with no thyroid disorder, those with spontaneous hypothyroidism had on average 252 g (95% CI 61 to 443 g; P = 0.01) lower birth weight and 1.2 cm; 0.5 to 2.0 cm; P = 0.002) shorter length at birth The odds of developing hypothyroidism increased 4.4-fold per kilogram decrease in birth weight (95% CI 1.4 to 14.1). Hypothyroid subjects had been shorter in early childhood and had had lower BMI during later childhood. Conclusions. Small body size at birth and during childhood increases the risk of spontaneous hypothyroidism in adult women. Kuusi, M., Lahti, E., Virolainen, A., Hatakka, M., Vuento, R., Rantala, L., Vuopio-Varkila, J., Seuna, E., Karppelin, M., Hakkinen, M., Takkinen, J., Gindonis, V., Siponen, K. and Huotari, K. BMC Infect Dis. 2006; 6: 36. IF 1.956 BACKGROUND: Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus is a rare infection in humans associated with contact with horses or consumption of unpasteurized milk products. On October 23, 2003, the National Public Health Institute was alerted that within one week three persons had been admitted to Tampere University Central Hospital (TaYS) because of S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus septicaemia. All had consumed fresh goat cheese produced in a small-scale dairy located on a farm. We conducted an investigation to determine the source and the extent of the outbreak. METHODS: Cases were identified from the National Infectious Disease Register. Cases were persons with S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolated from a normally sterile site who had illness onset 15.9-31.10.2003. All cases were telephone interviewed by using a standard questionnaire and clinical information was extracted from patient charts. Environmental and food specimens included throat swabs from two persons working in the dairy, milk from goats and raw milk tank, cheeses made of unpasteurized milk, vaginal samples of goats, and borehole well water. The isolates were characterized by ribotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). RESULTS: Seven persons met the case definition; six had septicaemia and one had purulent arthritis. Five were women; the median age was 70 years (range 54-93). None of the cases were immunocompromized and none died. Six cases were identified in TaYS, and one in another university hospital in southern Finland. All had eaten goat cheese produced on the implicated farm. S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus was isolated from throat swabs, fresh goat cheese, milk tank, and vaginal samples of one goat. All human and environmental strains were indistinguishable by ribotyping and PFGE. CONCLUSION: The outbreak was caused by goat cheese produced from unpasteurized milk. Outbreaks caused by S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus may not be detected if streptococcal strains are only typed to the group level. S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus may be a re-emerging disease if unpasteurized milk is increasingly used for food production. Facilities using unpasteurized milk should be carefully monitored to prevent this type of outbreaks. Geographical variation in neonatal phenotype Leary, S., Fall, C., Osmond, C., Lovel, H., Campbell, D., Eriksson, J., Forrester, T., Godfrey, K., Hill, J., Jie, M., Law, C., Newby, R., Robinson, S. and Yajnik, C. Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 2006; 85(9): 1080-1089. Article. IF 1.549 Background. Recent studies have shown associations between size and body proportions at birth and health outcomes throughout the life cycle, but there are few data on how neonatal phenotype varies in different populations around the world. Methods. Data from the UK, Finland, India, Sri Lanka, China, DR Congo, Nigeria, and Jamaica (n = 22,067) were used to characterize geographical differences in phenotype in singleton, live-born newborns. Measurements included birth weight, placental weight, length, head, chest, abdominal and arm circumferences, and skinfolds. Results. Neonates in Europe were the largest, followed by Jamaica, East Asia (China), then Africa and South Asia. Birth weight varied widely (mean values 2,730-3,570 g), but in contrast, head circumference was similar in all except China (markedly smaller). The main difference in body proportions between populations was the head to length ratio, with small heads relative to length in China and large heads relative to length in South Asia and Africa. Conclusions. These marked geographical differences in neonatal phenotype need to be considered when investigating determinants of fetal growth, and optimal phenotype for short-term and long-term outcomes. Geographical variation in relationships between parental body size and offspring phenotype at birth Leary, S., Fall, C., Osmond, C., Lovel, H., Campbell, D., Eriksson, J., Forrester, T., Godfrey, K., Hill, J., Jie, M., Law, C., Newby, R., Robinson, S. and Yajnik, C. Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 2006; 85(9): 1066-1079. Article. IF 1.549 Background. Size and body proportions at birth are partly determined by maternal body composition, but most studies of mother-baby relationships have only considered the effects of maternal height and weight on offspring birth weight, and few have examined the size of effects. Paternal size and body composition also play a role, primarily through the fetal genome, although few studies have investigated relationships with neonatal phenotype. Methods. Data from the UK, Finland, India, Sri Lanka, China, DR Congo, Nigeria and Jamaica were used to investigate the effects of maternal measures (derived at 30 weeks' gestation, n = 16,418), and also paternal size (n = 3,733) on neonatal phenotype, for singleton, live-born, term births. Results. After accounting for variation in maternal size and shape across populations, differences in neonatal phenotype were markedly reduced. Mother-baby relationships were similar across populations, although some were stronger in developing countries. Maternal height was generally the strongest predictor of neonatal length, maternal head circumference of neonatal head and maternal skinfold thickness of neonatal skinfolds. Relationships with maternal arm muscle area were generally weak. Effects of paternal height and body mass index were weaker than the equivalent maternal measurements in most studies. Conclusions. Differences in maternal body composition account for a large part of the geographical variation in neonatal phenotype. The size of the effects of all maternal measures on neonatal phenotype suggests that nutrition at every stage of the mother's life cycle may influence fetal growth. Further research is needed into father-baby relationships and the genetic mechanisms that influence fetal growth. Lehtinen, M., Kaasila, M., Pasanen, K., Patama, T., Palmroth, J., Laukkanen, P., Pukkala, E. and Koskela, P. Int J Cancer. 2006. IF 4.700 Vaccines against high-risk (hr) human papillomaviruses (HPVs) causing cervical cancer may soon be licensed. Thus, nature of HPV epidemics needs to be studied now. Random sampling for studies on HPV epidemiology was done from all 230,998 women belonging to the population-based Finnish Maternity Cohort and having a minimum of 2 pregnancies between 1983 and 1994. First pregnancy serum specimens were retrieved for 7,805 subjects, and were analyzed for antibodies to HPV6/11, 16 and 18 with standard ELISAs. HPV16 seroprevalence almost doubled from the 1980s to the 1990s, and the epidemic spread to new areas in 23-31 year olds, i.e. the bulk of pregnant female population in the southwest part of the country. The HPV16 epidemic in the 14-22 year olds in 1983-1988 (1961-1974 birth cohorts) and in the 23-31 year olds in 1989-1994 (1958-1971 birth cohorts) overlapped with strong clustering of HPV16 and HPV18 infections in the latter (odds ratio 8.0, 95% confidence interval 6.6-9.7). Similar clustering of HPV16 and HPV6/11 infections was not found. The epidemic and the clustering may be due to high transmission probability of the hrHPV types and increase in sexual activity of the index birth cohorts. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Mercier, N., Osborne-Pellegrin, M., El Hadri, K., Kakou, A., Labat, C., Loufrani, L., Henrion, D., Challande, P., Jalkanen, S., Feve, B. and Lacolley, P. Cardiovasc Res. 2006. IF 5.283 OBJECTIVE: We examined the arterial phenotype of semicarbazide-sensitive amine-oxidase null mouse (SSAO -/-) using various techniques including high resolution echotracking. METHODS AND RESULTS: SSAO -/- mice showed no change in arterial pressure under anesthesia. The in vivo arterial diameter, only measured in the carotid artery (CA), was higher in SSAO -/- than in SSAO +/+ animals. Elastic modulus-wall stress curves and CA rupture pressure were similar between SSAO -/- and +/+ mice, indicating no change in arterial wall stiffness or mechanical strength. There was no significant difference in insoluble elastin, total collagen content and elastic lamellar morphology between the two genotypes. No alteration in vascular reactivity was observed in aortic rings and mesenteric arteries from SSAO -/- mice. Aortic lysyl oxidase (LO) activity remained unaltered, indicating that SSAO invalidation is not accompanied by a compensatory increase in LO activity. CONCLUSION: This is the first functional study of arteries lacking SSAO. Our results indicate that SSAO -/- mice present an increased arterial diameter associated with normal arterial mechanical properties, suggesting that SSAO deficiency might contribute to arterial wall remodeling. However, these results argue against the hypothesis that SSAO intervenes in elastic fibre organization, elastin cross-linking processes and vasoreactivity. Nakagami, T., Qiao, Q., Tuomilehto, J., Tajima, N., Hu, G. and Borch-Johnsen, K. European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation. 2006; 13(4): 555-561. Article. IF 2.333 Background The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that the Asia Pacific region will experience an increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a result of demographic changes and an increasing prevalence of diabetes. The aims of this study were to assess the predictive value of glucose tolerance status as a risk factor for CVD and identify a high-risk group for fatal CVD in population-based studies of Asians. Design A meta-analysis of five prospective cohort studies of Japanese and Asian Indian origin from five countries. Methods A total of 6573 subjects without a history of CVD from five prospective studies were followed for 5-10 years. Diabetes at baseline was diagnosed according to 1999 WHO criteria. Hazard ratios for death from CVD were estimated using a Cox proportional hazard model, adjusting for glucose tolerance status together with established risk factors for CVD. Results The meta-analysis showed that the overall hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for CVD mortality corresponding to the presence of screen-detected diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesteremia were 3.42 (2.23-5.23), 1.57 (1.10-2.24) and 1.49 (1.05-2.10), respectively. Stratified multivariate analysis of the pooled data showed that subjects with screen-detected diabetes in the presence of hypertension or hypercholesteremia had the highest risk of CVD in individuals without previous CVD or diabetes. Subjects with screen-detected diabetes in the presence of hypertension or hypercholesteremia comprised 78% of CVD deaths that occurred in all subjects with screen-detected diabetes. Conclusions The early detection of undiagnosed diabetes in hypertension or hypercholesteremia may have clinical and public health implications for the primary prevention of rapidly increasing diabetes-related atherosclerotic CVD in Asian populations. Pakkasjärvi, N., Ritvanen, A., Herva, R., Peltonen, L., Kestilä, M. and Ignatius, J. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A. 2006; 140A(17): 1834-1839. Article. IF 1.913 Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by multiple contractures with an estimated frequency of 1 in 3,000 births. With improving diagnostic methods, increasing numbers of fetuses with arthrogryposis are found. The pathogenetic mechanisms are relatively well known but the epidemiology and genetics of the prenatally lethal forms of arthrogryposis are less well known. In this study we collected all cases of a multiple contractures diagnosed in Finland during 19872002 including live born infants, stillbirths, and terminated pregnancies. Ninety-two cases of 214 suffered intrauterine demise (68 selective pregnancy terminations and 24 stillbirths) and 58 died in infancy. In 141 out of these cases the diagnosis could be included within lethal arthrogryposes, with a prevalence of I in 6,985 (1.43/10,000) births. Of these, 59 had spinal cord pathology at autopsy and thus were of neurogenic origin. Thirty-nine cases had lethal congenital contracture. syndrome (LCCS) clinically characterized by total immobility of the fetus at all ultrasound examinations (12 weeks or later), multiple joint contractures in both upper and lower limbs, hydrops, and fetal death before the 32nd week of pregnancy. LCCS is noted as a unique Finnish disorder with a prevalence of I in 25,250 (0-40/10,000) births and is a major cause of lethal arthrogryposis in Finland. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Systemic and mucosal antibody response in experimental Chlamydia pneumoniae infection of mice Penttilä, T., Wahlström, E., Vuola, J. M., Sarvas, M. and Puolakkainen, M. Comparative Medicine. 2006; 56(4): 272-278. Article. IF 1.084 Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common human respiratory pathogen, and sera from infected individuals recognize several proteins of C. pneumoniae. We produced C. pneumoniae-specific proteins in a Bacillus subtilis expression system. We then used these recombinant C. pneumoniae proteins and purified C. pneumoniae elementary bodies as antigens in enzyme immunoassays to assess the kinetics and protein specificity of the systemic and mucosal antibody responses induced by C. pneumoniae intranasal infection in BALB/c mice. The systemic antibodies in mice recognized strong 'key' immunogens of Chlamydia, Omp2 and Hsp60, but weakly targeted the MOMP protein, the major immunogen in chlamydial species other than C. pneumoniae. The IgA antibodies in bronchial secretions specifically recognized the putative surface protein of C. pneumoniae, Omp4. Our preliminary observations point to the necessity of further characterization of the mucosal antibody response during C. pneumoniae infection. Salmi, M. and Jalkanen, S. Blood. 2006; 108(5): 1555-1561. Article. IF 10.131 Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is a homodimeric glycoprotein that belongs to a unique subgroup of cell-surface-expressed oxidases. In adults, endothelial VAP-1 supports leukocyte rolling, firm adhesion, and transmigration in both enzyme activity-dependent and enzyme activity-independent manner. Here we studied the induction and function of VAP-1 during human ontogeny. We show that VAP-1 is already found in the smooth muscle at embryonic week 7. There are marked time-dependent switches in VAP-1 expression in the sinusoids of the liver, in the peritubular capillaries of the kidney, in the capillaries of the heart, and in the venules in the lamina propria of the gut. Fetal VAP-1 is dimerized, and it is enzymatically active. VAP-1 in fetal-type venules is able to bind cord blood lymphocytes. Also, adenovirally transfected VAP-1 on human umbilical vein endothelial cells is involved in rolling and firm adhesion of cord blood lymphocytes under conditions of physiologic shear stress. We conclude that VAP-1 is synthesized from early on in human vessels and it is functionally intact already before birth. Thus, VAP-1 may contribute critically to the oxidase activities in utero, and prove important for lymphocyte trafficking during human ontogeny. Seppänen, M., Meri, S., Notkola, I. L., Seppälä, I. J. T., Hiltunen-Bäck, E., Sarvas, H., Lappalainen, M., Valimaa, H., Palikhe, A., Valtonen, V. V. and Lokki, M. L. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2006; 194(5): 571-578. Article. IF 4.953 Background. Immunogenetic factors predisposing to recurrent genital herpes remain poorly characterized. Methods. In a prospective case-control study, 52 consecutive patients with frequently recurring outbreaks of genital herpes were compared with 80 herpes simplex virus (HSV)-seropositive (types 1 and 2) and 70 HSV-seronegative control subjects. Immunoglobulins (Igs), type-specific anti-HSV-2 IgG and IgG subclass antibodies against glycoprotein G, levels of C3 and C4, and classical pathway hemolytic complement activity were measured, and IgG 1 and IgG3 allotyping; C4 immunophenotyping; C4(star) real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genotyping; and HLA-A(star), B-star, and DR star typing were performed. Results. The G3m(g),G1m(a/a(x)) haplotype was more frequent inpatients than in HSV-seronegative control subjects (P = .047). Compared with all control subjects, low levels of total IgG1 (odds ratio [OR], 4.9 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 2.0-12.5]; P = .001) and IgG3 (OR 3.6 [95% CI 1.7-7.8]; P = .001), but not of anti-HSV-2 antibodies, were associated with recurrences. Levels of complement were lowest in patients. The C4(star) null type was negatively associated with neuralgia (OR, 0.2 [95% CI, 0.06-0.81]; P =.022). Conclusions. Low levels of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity-mediating IgG1 and IgG3 antibodies, partly dependent of allotype, may predispose to recurrent genital herpes. Antibodies produced by T helper type 1 responses, potentially against an unknown epitope, appear to be relevant in recurrences. In patients, C4* deficiencies are associated with protection from herpetic neuralgias, possibly through reduced inflammation. Sommer, W., Hyytiä, P. and Kiianmaa, K. Addiction Biology. 2006; 11(3-4): 289-309. Review. IF 1.846 The AA (alko, alcohol) and ANA (alko, non-alcohol) rat lines were among the earliest rodent lines produced by bidirectional selection for ethanol preference. The purpose of this review is to highlight the strategies for understanding the neurobiological factors underlying differential alcohol-drinking behavior in these lines. Most early work evaluated functioning of the major neurotransmitter systems implicated in drug reward in the lines. No consistent line differences were found in the dopaminergic system either under baseline conditions or after ethanol challenges. However, increased opioidergic tone in the ventral striatum and a deficiency in endocannabinoid signaling in the prefrontal cortex of AA rats may comprise mechanisms leading to increased ethanol consumption. Because complex behaviors, such as ethanol drinking, are not likely to be controlled by single factors, system-oriented molecular-profiling strategies have been used recently. Microarray based expression analysis of AA and ANA brains and novel data-mining strategies provide a system biological view that allows us to formulate a hypothesis on the mechanism underlying selection for ethanol preference. Two main factors appear active in the selection: a recruitment of signal transduction networks, including mitogen-activated protein kinases and calcium pathways and involving transcription factors such as Creb, Myc and Max, to mediate ethanol reinforcement and plasticity. The second factor acts on the mitochondrion and most likely provides metabolic flexibility for alternative substrate utilization in the presence of low amounts of ethanol. Alistipes onderdonkii sp nov and Alistipes shahii sp nov., of human origin Song, Y. L., Kononen, E., Rautio, M., Liu, C. X., Bryk, A., Eerola, E. and Finegold, S. M. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2006; 56: 1985-1990. Article. IF 2.744 Two groups of previously unknown Gram-negative, strictly anaerobic, pigment-producing, rod-shaped bacteria, which phenotypically and phylogenetically displayed a close association with the recently described species Alistipes finegoldii, were characterized using phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. A 16S rRNA gene sequence divergence of approximately 3% between the two unknown bacteria and A. finegoldii, as well as distinguishable biochemical characteristics, demonstrates that these organisms are genotypically and phenotypically distinct and that each group represents a previously unknown subline within the genus Alistipes. Chromosomal DNA-DNA reassociation studies further confirmed the separateness of the unidentified bacteria and A. finegoldii. On the basis of the phenotypic and phylogenetic findings, two novel species, Alistipes onderdonkii sp. nov. and Alistipes shahii sp. nov., are proposed. The type strains of A. onderdonkii and A. shahii are WAL 8169(T) (=CCUG 48946(T) =ATCC BAA-1178(T)) and WAL 8301(T) (=CCUG 48947(T) =ATCC BAA- 1179(T)), respectively; their DNA G+C contents are 58 and 56 mol%, respectively. Tiirola, T., Sinisalo, J., Nieminen, M. S., Silvennoinen-Kassinen, S., Paldanius, M., Saikku, P., Jauhiainen, M. and Leinonen, M. Atherosclerosis. 2006. IF 3.777 Infections, Chlamydia pneumoniae as a major candidate, have been suggested to participate in inflammatory processes ultimately leading to atherosclerosis. In the present study we measured serum levels of chlamydial lipopolysaccharide (cLPS) and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients (n=145). During ACS, both cLPS and hsCRP were elevated and significant correlation (P=0.003, r=0.25) between them was observed. Both cLPS and hsCRP levels decreased after the event and correlation remained significant during the follow-up period. Our results suggest that cLPS is liberated from the damaged tissue persistently infected with C. pneumoniae during the ACS event. The significant correlation between cLPS and hsCRP levels further point to the possibility that both levels reflect the magnitude of tissue damage. |