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Disease Progresses (disease + progress)
Terms modified by Disease Progresses Selected AbstractsA Comparison of Three Experimental Designs for the Field Assessment of Resistance to Rice Blast Disease (Pyricularia oryzae)JOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2007D. Katsantonis Abstract The reliability and the effectiveness of three field experimental designs for the assessment of varietal resistance to Pyricularia oryzae was studied for 2 years. Plants were arranged in the field using two sets of three designs: randomized compete block (RCB), adjacent control (AC) and honeycomb (HC). In the first set, plants were inoculated with the fungus and in the second one, plants were naturally infected. Four varieties were used, Maratelli (susceptible control), Roxani, Selenio and Senia (main varieties). Disease progress was recorded as leaf and neck blast. The number of plants of the main varieties required in each design was higher for RCB (90) and lower for AC and HC (30 and 32, respectively). Results showed that disease severity was significantly different in the varieties studied and it was consistent and not affected by the plant arrangement in the field. All experimental designs were reliable and effective for the assessment of leaf and neck blast under inoculation or natural infection. AC and HC designs had the advantage of requiring fewer plants over RCB one. This could be important in cases where seed availability is a limiting factor. [source] Quantitation of reduced glutathione and cysteine in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patientsELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 10-11 2004Elena Sbrana Abstract Plasma viral load (VL) values and CD4+ cell count are employed clinically for initiation of therapy in the treatment of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as previous clinical studies have shown a marked prevalence of acquired immunodeficiency sydrome (AIDS) development in seropositive individuals with VL values over 30,000 copies/mL. Many studies have shown that reduced glutathione (GSH) and cysteine (Cys) deficiency play an important role in the infection. We have developed capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE)-based assays and have used them to investigate the relationship between plasma and intracellular thiol levels and HIV-1 viremia in plasma. Blood samples from healthy volunteers and seropositive patients undergoing different antiretroviral regimes were analyzed in the study. The VL assay was based on CZE-UV detection of viral RNA at 260 nm. Determination of endogenous reduced Cys and GSH was achieved by CZE-UV detection of their mercurial complexes at 200 nm. We found that a decrease in GSH and Cys levels may be associated with disease progress. In fact, reduced GSH and Cys levels appear progressively reduced with increasing VL. [source] Do cytogenetic abnormalities precede morphologic abnormalities in a developing malignant condition?EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2007Jill K. Northup Abstract Cytogenetic evaluation of bone marrow and neoplastic tissues plays a critical role in determining patient management and prognosis. Here, we highlight two cases in which the cytogenetic studies challenge the common practice of using hematologic and morphologic changes as key factors in malignant disease management. The first case is that of a lymph node sample from a 40-yr-old non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patient sent for determination of disease progress. Hematologic studies showed no evidence of transformation to high-grade NHL (>15% blasts with rare mitotic figures). Cytogenetic studies of lymph node showed multiple clonal abnormalities, most notably a der(18) from a t(14;18) which is associated with high-grade NHL. After two cycles of chemotherapy with fludarabine, the patient did not show any clinical response, suggesting possible progression to high-grade lymphoma. The second case is of a patient with a history of human immunodeficiency virus and blastic natural killer leukemia/lymphoma. Hematologic studies of ascitic fluid classified the patient as having pleural effusion lymphoma whereas bone marrow analysis showed no malignancy. Bone marrow cytogenetic studies showed multiple clonal abnormalities including a t(8;14), which is commonly associated with Burkitt's lymphoma (BL). To our knowledge, this is the first case wherein a morphologically normal bone marrow showed presence of clonal abnormalities consistent with BL or Pleural effusion lymphoma. After two cycles of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) chemotherapy, the patient's general condition and ascitis improved and she was discharged. These studies clearly demonstrate that genetic changes often precede morphologic changes in a developing malignant condition. Therefore, the critical information needed for care of patients with malignant disorders may be incomplete or inaccurate if cytogenetic evaluation is overlooked. [source] Microbial communities in roots of Pinus sylvestris seedlings with damping-off symptoms in two forest nurseries as determined by ITS1/2 rDNA sequencingFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2009H. Kwa Summary A methodological molecular procedure, which included extraction and cloning of the ITS1/2 rDNA of root-associated organisms with subsequent transformation and sequencing of representative clones, was effective for detection, discrimination and determination of the frequency of the main damping-off pathogens in roots of Pinus sylvestris seedlings growing in different forest-tree nursery soils and exhibiting different rates of disease progress. Roots exhibiting slower damping-off progression were colonized by Fusarium oxysporum, Neonectria radicicola (Ascomycota) and Pythium spp. (Oomycota), which comprised 50% of the microbial community. Roots exhibiting faster damping-off progression were dominated by Thanatephorus cucumeris (Basidiomycota), which comprised 80% of the microbial community. The microbial community was more diverse in roots with slower damping-off progression (14 species) than in roots with faster disease progression (seven species). [source] The effects of 1-methylcyclopropene on peach fruit (Prunus persica L. cv. Jiubao) ripening and disease resistanceINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2005Hongxia Liu Summary In order to learn how 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) affects ripening and disease-resistance of peach fruit (Prunus persica L. cv. Jiubao) after harvest, they were treated with 1-MCP and some were inoculated with Penicillium expansum. Treating peach fruit with 0.2 ,L L,1 of 1-MCP at 22 °C for 24 h effectively slowed the decline in fruit firmness. The minimal concentration of 1-MCP able to inhibit fruit softening was 0.6 ,L L,1. Changes in other parameters related to peach ripening, such as content of soluble solids, total soluble sugar, titratable acidity, soluble pectin and ethylene production were also significantly reduced or delayed by 1-MCP. Repeated treatment of peach with 1-MCP resulted in more effective inhibition of ripening. Post-harvest decay of peach fruit was reduced by treatment with 1-MCP and disease progress in fruit inoculated with P. expansum was reduced. The activities of phenylalanine ammonialyase, polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase in the inoculated fruit were also enhanced by 1-MCP. [source] Predictors of mortality in frontotemporal dementia: a retrospective study of the prognostic influence of pre-diagnostic featuresINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 7 2003A. Gräsbeck Abstract Objectives To find associations between predictors and survival in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Methods 96 patients with FTD, here defined as Dementia in Pick's disease, were studied. The predictors included psychiatric/behavioural features, language impairment and neurological deficits present up to the time of diagnosis. The influence on mortality was studied by means of Cox regression analyses. Results Most of the behavioural/psychiatric features were associated with longer survival. Among these features, anxiety and suicidal ideation were associated with a statistically significant decreased mortality. Semi-mutism/mutism and neurological deficits were associated with a statistically significant increased mortality. Analyses of the dementia-specific mortality strengthened the already significant results and revealed dysphagia as significantly related to increased mortality. Conclusions Two groups of predictors with different influence on survival were identified in FTD. Most behavioural/psychiatric features were associated with longer survival. These features may indicate a slower disease progress and a better preserved cerebral function. By contrast, semi-mutism/mutism, neurological deficits and dysphagia were associated with shorter survival, indicating an aggressive, degenerative process. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Vitamin A and HIV Infection: Disease Progression, Mortality, and TransmissionNUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 10 2000Chinaro M. Kennedy Dr.P.H. Among HIV-infected individuals, many nutritional factors that influence disease progress, mortality, and transmission are not well understood. Of particular interest is the role of vitamin A. The benefits of vitamin A have been recognized since ancient times by Egyptian physicians who successfully treated night blindness with vitamin A. Contemporary scientists have since recognized the importance of vitamin A and have provided evidence that it may help in repairing damaged mucosal surfaces; what remains unclear, however, is its role during HIV infection. In this review, we examine the evidence provided in both observational studies and randomized controlled trials that assessed the effect of vitamin A during HIV infection. [source] Modulation of primary and secondary infections in epidemics of carrot cavity spot through agronomic management practicesPLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2008F. Suffert The relative importance of primary and secondary infections (auto- and alloinfections) in the development of a carrot cavity spot (CCS) epidemic caused by Pythium spp. were investigated. Three cropping factors: fungicide application, soil moisture and planting density, were selected as the key variables affecting the disease tetrahedron. Their effects on: (i) disease measurements at a specific time, (ii) the areas under the disease progress curves (AUDPCs) and (iii) a time-dependent parameter in a pathometric incidence-severity relationship, were studied. Mefenoxam applications 5 and 9 weeks after sowing reduced the intensity of a field CCS epidemic that involved both primary and secondary infections. In microcosm experiments, mefenoxam reduced secondary infections by Pythium violae obtained by transplanting infected carrot roots and slowed disease progress (1·6 lesions per root in treated versus 5·8 lesions in non-treated microcosms). A deficit of soil moisture limited the movement of Pythium propagules to host tissue, and thus reduced primary infections in the field; it also promoted the healing of lesions, limiting lesion expansion and the potential for alloinfections (6·8,7·5 lesions per root in irrigated plots compared with 2·4 lesions in non-irrigated plots). A negative relationship between the mean root-to-root distance and the rate of alloinfections was established in microcosms; a reduction in mean planting density was also effective in limiting CCS development (0·5, 1·6 and 2·0 lesions per root in microcosms containing 8, 16 and 31 roots, respectively). An integrated disease management system based on a combination of cultural methods, such as optimized fungicide application, date of harvest versus soil moisture content, and host density versus planting pattern, may make a useful contribute to the control of CCS. [source] Variation in pathogen aggressiveness within a metapopulation of the Cakile maritima,Alternaria brassicicola host,pathogen associationPLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2005P. H. Thrall Variation in aggressiveness and its consequences for disease epidemiology were studied in the Cakile maritima,Alternaria brassicicola host,pathogen association. Variability in pathogen growth rates and spore production in vitro, as well as disease severity and lesion growth rate on C. maritima in glasshouse inoculation trials, were investigated. Substantial variation was found in growth rates among individual A. brassicicola isolates, as well as among pathogen populations. A significant trade-off also existed between growth and spore production, such that faster-growing isolates produced fewer spores per unit area. While there was little evidence for a link between growth in vitro and either disease severity or lesion development among fast- vs slow-growth isolate classes at the individual isolate level, the results suggest that variation in pathogen fitness components associated with aggressiveness may influence disease dynamics in nature. An analysis using an independent data set of disease prevalence in the associated host populations found a significant positive relationship between the average growth rate of pathogen populations in vitro and disease progress over the growing season in wild host populations. Trade-offs such as those demonstrated between growth rate and spore production may contribute to the maintenance of variation in quantitatively based host,pathogen interactions. [source] Research sensitivities to palliative care patientsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE, Issue 3 2002J. Addington-Hall phd Research sensitivities to palliative care patients This paper considers the methodological challenges of researching the health care experiences of palliative care patients and their families. Difficulties in defining a ,palliative care patient' are highlighted, and the question of whether there are specific ethical issues when researching palliative care explored. Methodological issues are discussed, including the negotiation of access via health professionals, the choice of appropriate data collection methods and tools, the consequences of high attrition rates and the use of retrospective surveys of bereaved relatives. Key areas for research are identified. These include patients' and families' experiences of research participation, the impact of being approached on those who decline, how the characteristics of those who participate differ from those who do not and the likely impact of this on findings. Research is also needed into patient and family motivations for participation, and whether and how these change as the disease progresses. To ensure that the voices of palliative care patients and their families are heard by both service providers and policy-makers, research in this area needs to address the methodological challenges raised in this paper, as well as continuing to explore users' views. [source] Genetic reductions of ,-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 and amyloid-, ameliorate impairment of conditioned taste aversion memory in 5XFAD Alzheimer's disease model miceEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 1 2010Latha Devi Abstract Although transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) recapitulate amyloid-, (A,)-related pathologies and cognitive impairments, previous studies have mainly evaluated their hippocampus-dependent memory dysfunctions using behavioral tasks such as the water maze and fear conditioning. However, multiple memory systems become impaired in AD as the disease progresses and it is important to test whether other forms of memory are affected in AD models. This study was designed to use conditioned taste aversion (CTA) and contextual fear conditioning paradigms to compare the phenotypes of hippocampus-independent and -dependent memory functions, respectively, in 5XFAD amyloid precursor protein/presenilin-1 transgenic mice that harbor five familial AD mutations. Although both types of memory were significantly impaired in 5XFAD mice, the onset of CTA memory deficits (,9 months of age) was delayed compared with that of contextual memory deficits (,6 months of age). Furthermore, 5XFAD mice that were genetically engineered to have reduced levels of ,-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) (BACE1+/,·5XFAD) exhibited improved CTA memory, which was equivalent to the performance of wild-type controls. Importantly, elevated levels of cerebral ,-secretase-cleaved C-terminal fragment (C99) and A, peptides in 5XFAD mice were significantly reduced in BACE1+/,·5XFAD mice. Furthermore, A, deposition in the insular cortex and basolateral amygdala, two brain regions that are critically involved in CTA performance, was also reduced in BACE1+/,·5XFAD compared with 5XFAD mice. Our findings indicate that the CTA paradigm is useful for evaluating a hippocampus-independent form of memory defect in AD model mice, which is sensitive to rescue by partial reductions of the ,-secretase BACE1 and consequently of cerebral A,. [source] Working memory in early Alzheimer's disease: a neuropsychological reviewINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 2 2010J. D. Huntley Abstract Background Reports of the extent of working memory (WM) impairment in early Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been inconsistent. Using the model of WM proposed by Baddeley, neuropsychological evidence for the impairment of WM in early AD is evaluated. Method Literature searches were performed using Medline, PsycINFO and Embase databases. Individual papers were then examined for additional references not revealed by computerised searches. Results Phonological loop function is intact at the preclinical and early stages of AD, becoming more impaired as the disease progresses. In mild AD, there is impairment on tasks assessing visuospatial sketchpad (VSS) function; however, these tasks also require executive processing by the central executive system (CES). There is evidence that the CES is impaired in mild AD and may be affected in the earlier preclinical stage of the disease. Episodic buffer function may be impaired but further research is required. Conclusions Future research into central executive functioning at the earliest stages of the disease, combined with further longitudinal studies, needs to be carried out. Tasks to assess the proposed functions of the episodic buffer and specific tests of the VSS suitable for AD subjects need to be developed and validated. Learning more about these processes and how they are affected in AD is important in understanding and managing the cognitive deficits seen in the early stages of AD. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Protein misfolding inside cells: The case of huntingtin and Huntington's diseaseIUBMB LIFE, Issue 11 2008Danny M. Hatters Abstract Huntington's disease is one of the several neurodegenerative diseases caused by dominant mutations that expand the number of glutamine codons within an existing poly-glutamine (polyQ) repeat sequence of a gene. An expanded polyQ sequence in the huntingtin gene is known to cause the huntingtin protein to aggregate and form intracellular inclusions as disease progresses. However, the role that polyQ-induced aggregation plays in disease is yet to be fully determined. This review focuses on key questions remaining for how the expanded polyQ sequences affect the aggregation properties of the huntingtin protein and the corresponding effects on cellular machinery. The scope includes the technical challenges that remain for rigorously assessing the effects of aggregation on the cellular machinery. © 2008 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 60(11): 724,728, 2008 [source] Artificial hydration and nutrition in advanced Alzheimer's disease: facilitating family decision-makingJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 6 2004Sandra K Eggenberger PhD Background., As Alzheimer's disease progresses to its final stages of dementia and dysphagia, whereby patients can no longer swallow food and fluids, families suffer with difficult decisions regarding initiation of artificial hydration and nutrition. Aims and objectives., Through the use of a hypothetical family scenario, this theoretical article presents the ethical principals of beneficence and autonomy as a framework for use by nurses to hear and inform family decision-makers of the physiology of death in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's and examines the current literature related to benefits and burdens of artificial hydration and nutrition. Conclusions., While a beneficial consideration, ethical principles are critiqued for their inability to provide an absolute answer and relieve family suffering in this clinical situation. Relevance to clinical practice., A nurse-lead consensus building process is proposed to guide family decision-making regarding artificial hydration and nutrition with advanced Alzheimer's disease. [source] MRI of sporadic Creutzfeldt,Jakob diseaseJOURNAL OF MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION ONCOLOGY, Issue 4 2008A Kong Summary The key MRI findings in five cases of sporadic Creutzfeldt,Jakob disease (CJD) are illustrated with four ,definite' and one ,probable' according to World Health Organization criteria. Close attention to fluid-attenuation inversion recovery and diffusion-weighted imaging sequences are important for diagnosis, noting especially restricted diffusion in cortical and deep grey matter. Our study and those of others show predominant cortical, caudate and thalamic involvement. This pattern is highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis. Fluid-attenuation inversion recovery and diffusion-weighted imaging signal abnormality becomes progressively more extensive and bilateral as disease progresses, but may become less pronounced in end-stage disease because of atrophy. [source] Leptin levels in gingival crevicular fluid in periodontal health and diseaseJOURNAL OF PERIODONTAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2007B. V. Karthikeyan Background and Objective:, A high concentration of leptin is associated with healthy gingival tissue, and the concentration of leptin decreases as periodontal disease progresses. However, to date, the leptin concentration in gingival crevicular fluid has not been documented. Hence, the present study was carried out to explore the presence of leptin in gingival crevicular fluid in periodontal health and disease, and to probe further into its possible role in periodontal disease progression. Material and Methods:, A total of 45 adult patients were selected, based on their body mass index, for the study. They were categorized into three groups of 15 patients each, based on their periodontal tissue status, as follows: group I (clinically healthy gingiva with no loss of attachment); group II (chronic gingivitis with no loss of attachment); and group III (chronic periodontitis). Gingival crevicular fluid samples of 1 µL were collected extracrevicularly using white color-coded 1,5 µL calibrated volumetric microcapillary pipettes from one site in each person, and samples were analyzed for leptin using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results:, The concentration of leptin in gingival crevicular fluid of patients in group I (2292.69 pg/mL) was statistically higher (p < 0.05) than in those of groups II (1409.95 pg/mL) and III (1071.89 pg/mL). This suggests a negative correlation of gingival crevicular fluid leptin concentration with clinical attachment loss (p < 0.05). Conclusion:, As periodontal tissue destruction increased, there was a substantial decrease in gingival crevicular fluid leptin concentration. This observation extends our knowledge of the protective role of leptin in periodontal health. [source] Polymorphism of the promoter region of prostacyclin synthase gene in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertensionRESPIROLOGY, Issue 2 2004Shinya AMANO Objective: Decreased expression of prostacyclin synthase (PGIS) is observed in the lung vasculature of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and the biosynthesis of prostacyclin (PGI2) may be impaired in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Whether it is genetically determined or develops as the disease progresses is unclear. A variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism has been detected in the 5,-upstream promoter region of the PGIS gene. It has been demonstrated that the alleles vary in size from three to seven repeats of nine base pairs, and transcriptional activity increased with the number of repeats. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the association between the VNTR polymorphisms of the PGIS gene and CTEPH in Japanese subjects. Methodology: Ninety patients with CTEPH and 144 control subjects were investigated for the presence of VNTR polymorphisms. Sixty-two blood samples were obtained from CTEPH patients and the plasma concentrations of prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 metabolites were measured. Results: VNTR polymorphisms in the prostacyclin synthase gene were grouped into L alleles (five, six and seven repeats) and S alleles (three and four repeats). The overall distribution of the alleles and genotypes were not significantly different between CTEPH patients and the control subjects. The patients with the LL genotype had higher plasma concentrations of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1, than patients with the LS and SS genotypes. Conclusions: Our results suggested that the specific VNTR polymorphism in the 5,-upstream promoter region of the PGIS gene regulated prostacyclin production, but did not seem to be associated with the development of CTEPH in this patient population. [source] Relationship between atrophy and ,-amyloid deposition in Alzheimer diseaseANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 3 2010Gaėl Chételat PhD Objective Elucidating the role of aggregated ,-amyloid in relation to gray matter atrophy is crucial to the understanding of the pathological mechanisms of Alzheimer disease and for the development of therapeutic trials. The present study aims to assess this relationship. Methods Brain magnetic resonance imaging and [11C]Pittsburgh compound B (PiB)-positron emission tomography scans were obtained from 94 healthy elderly subjects (49 with subjective cognitive impairment), 34 patients with mild cognitive impairment, and 35 patients with Alzheimer disease. The correlations between global and regional neocortical PiB retention and atrophy were analyzed in each clinical group. Results Global and regional atrophy were strongly related to ,-amyloid load in participants with subjective cognitive impairment but not in patients with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer disease. Global neocortical ,-amyloid deposition correlated to atrophy in a large brain network including the hippocampus, medial frontal and parietal areas, and lateral temporoparietal cortex, whereas regional ,-amyloid load was related to local atrophy in the areas of highest ,-amyloid load only, that is, medial orbitofrontal and anterior and posterior cingulate/precuneus areas. Interpretation There is a strong relationship between ,-amyloid deposition and atrophy very early in the disease process. As the disease progresses to mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease clinical stages, pathological events other than, and probably downstream from, aggregated ,-amyloid deposition might be responsible for the ongoing atrophic process. These findings suggest that antiamyloid therapy should be administered very early in the disease evolution to minimize synaptic and neuronal loss. ANN NEUROL 2010;67:317,324 [source] Enzyme replacement therapy with agalsidase alfa in a cohort of Italian patients with Anderson,Fabry disease: testing the effects with the Mainz Severity Score IndexCLINICAL GENETICS, Issue 3 2008R Parini Anderson,Fabry disease (AFD) is a rare X-linked disorder caused by lysosomal storage of several glycosphingolipids, affecting virtually all organs and systems. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for AFD has been available since 2001. Due to the highly variable nature of clinical manifestations in patients with AFD, it is very difficult to assess disease progression and the effects of therapy. We used the Mainz Severity Score Index (MSSI) as a measure of disease severity to study the effects of ERT in a population of 30 patients treated with agalsidase alfa for a median of 2.9 years (range, 1.0,6.2 years). Our data show that the MSSI captures the correlation between disease severity and both gender and age (1 , males performing worse than females at baseline and 2 , severity of diseases progresses with age in both sex). Furthermore, after at least 1 year of ERT, total MSSI scores were significantly lower than those at baseline (p < 0.001), suggesting a marked clinical improvement under ERT. In conclusion, the MSSI is a sensitive and useful tool for monitoring disease progression and assessing the effects of ERT in a population of patients from different treatment centres. [source] | |||||||||||||