Results: There were 14,774 proximal humeral fractures in the 20% sample from 1999 to 2000 (an estimated total of 73,870 fractures) and 16,138 fractures in the sample from 2004 to 2005 (an estimated total of 80,690 fractures). The overall age, sex, and race-adjusted incidence of proximal humeral fractures was unchanged from 1999 to 2005 (2.47 vs. 2.48 per 1000 Medicare beneficiaries; p = 0.992). However, the absolute rate of surgically managed proximal humeral fractures rose 3.2 percentage points from 12.5% to

15.7%, a relative increase of 25.6% (p < 0.0001). The relative increase in the percentage of fractures treated with ORIF was 28.5% (p < 0.0001), while the percentage of fractures treated with hemiarthroplasty increased 19.6% (p < 0.0001). There were large regional variations in the proportion treated surgically (range, 0% to 68.18%). The rates of repeat surgery were significantly higher in 2004 to 2005 compared with 1999 PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor to 2000 (odds ratio = 1.47, p = 0.043).

Conclusions: Although the incidence of proximal humeral fractures in the elderly did not change from 1999 EGFR signaling pathway to 2005, the rate of surgical treatment increased significantly. The marked regional variation in the rates of surgical treatment highlights the need for better consensus regarding optimal treatment of proximal humeral fractures. Additional research is needed to help to determine which fractures are best treated operatively

in order to maximize outcome and minimize the need for revision surgery.”
“Childhood obesity and poor fitness are associated with insulin resistance (IR), risk for coronary heart disease (CHD), and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Elevated markers of inflammation (e.g. C-reactive protein [CRP]) are independent predictors of CHD. Whether higher percent body fat and poor fitness in non-obese children are associated with evidence of inflammation and IR is unclear. We evaluated 75 children

with non-obese body mass index (BMI) for age (<95(th) percentile), ages 11-14 years for fasting insulin, glucose, adiponectin, CRP, body composition, and maximum oxygen consumption (VO(2max)). CRP correlated positively with body composition (BMI z-score, p = 0.00062; percent body fat, p = 0.00007; and total body fat in grams, p = 0.00006) and negatively with VO(2max), P = 0.036. Using multivariate analysis, VO(2max) Barasertib mw and percent body fat were both independent predictors of CRP. Fasting insulin and insulin resistance as assessed by QUICKI did not correlate with CRP, fitness, or fatness in these non-obese children. Adiponectin showed no significant correlations, and gender did not influence correlation analyses. We conclude that in non-obese children, low fitness and higher body fat are both associated with inflammation (i.e. higher levels of CRP). This observation strengthens the importance of promoting both fitness and healthy body composition in all children.”
“SETTING: Twenty-four districts in India.

“
“Antibodies are a unique class of proteins with the ability to adapt their binding sites for high affinity and high specificity to a multitude of antigens. Many analyses have been performed on antibody sequences and structures to elucidate which amino acids have a predominant role in antibody interactions with antigens. These studies have generally not distinguished between amino acids selected for broad antigen specificity in the primary immune response and those selected for high affinity in the secondary immune response. By studying a large data set of affinity matured antibodies derived

from in vitro directed evolution experiments, we were able to specifically highlight a subset of amino acids BGJ398 price associated with affinity improvements. In a comparison of affinity maturations using either tailored or full amino acid diversification, the tailored approach was found to be at least as effective at improving affinity while requiring fewer mutagenesis libraries than the traditional method. The resulting sequence data also highlight the potential for further reducing amino acid diversity for high affinity binding interactions.”
“The authors analyzed by transmission electron microscopy the modifications

of plasmalemma and nuclear envelope in the cerebral arterial wall in humans. Their ultrastructural Buparlisib chemical structure observations are performed on the tunica media and endothelium. During autoschizis, some smooth muscle cells showed deep invaginations of the nuclear envelope with multiple craters that disintegrate the nucleus, whereas in the endothelium repetitive invaginations of plasmalemma lead to cell demise by cytoplasmic self-excisions. During survival mechanism, a perinuclear constriction of plasmalemma

occurs, which conserves nucleus and cytoskeleton, and only a segregated cytoplasmic area, without organelles, is removed in lumen.”
“Objective: selleck screening library The aim of this study was to measure the level of nerve growth factor (NGF) in bronchial specimens from humans and to determine whether it correlated with not only clinical characteristics of asthma such as percent eosinophils, Th2 cytokine levels, and pulmonary function, but also metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1). Methods: Fifty-three people participated; 42 had asthma. The participants underwent bronchoscopy and the specimens were analyzed. The participants’ clinical data including pulmonary function tests were reviewed. Results: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with asthma had a significantly higher level of NGF compared with that from participants without asthma. NGF level showed a positive correlation with the percentage of eosinophils in both BALF and serum. The concentration of NGF did not correlate with that of Th2 cytokines interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in BALF or parameters of pulmonary function including degree of airway hyperresponsiveness (ARH).

However, the Rhine River also carries anomalously

high concentrations of lanthanum (La), which produce very large positive La anomalies in normalized REE distribution patterns. These positive La anomalies first occur north of the City of Worms and then decrease in size downstream, but are still significant approximately 400 km downstream, close to the German-Dutch border. Pexidartinib solubility dmso The strong La enrichment is of anthropogenic origin and can be traced back to effluent from a production plant for fluid catalytic cracking catalysts at Rhine river-km 447.4. This effluent is characterized by extremely high dissolved total REE and La concentrations of up to 52 mg/kg and 49 mg/kg, respectively. Such La concentrations are well-above those at which SCH772984 in vitro ecotoxicological effects have been observed. The Rhine River is the first case observed to date, where a river’s dissolved REE inventory is affected and even dominated by anthropogenic La. Our results suggest that almost 1.5 t of anthropogenic dissolved La is exported via the Rhine River into the North Sea per year. This reveals that the growing industrial use of REE (and other formerly “”exotic”" elements) results in their increasing release into the environment, and highlights the urgent need to determine

their geogenic background concentrations in terrestrial surface waters. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“A new phenolic selleck chemicals llc glycoside, benzyl 2-hydroxy-4-O–d-glucopyranosyl-benzoate (1), along with nine known flavonoids, epicatechin-(2O7,48)-ent-epicatechin (2), bis-8,8-catechinylmethane (3), quercetin (4), quercetin-3-O–l-arabinfuranoside (5), quercetin-3-O–l-rhamnopyranoside

(6), astilbin (7), engeletin (8), (2S,3R)-ent-catechin (9), and 2,4-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-6-O–d-glucopyranosyl dihydrochalcone (10), was isolated from the flowers of Pieris japonica. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of MS, 1D NMR, and 2D NMR techniques. This paper describes the isolation, structural elucidation as well as in vitro antioxidant activity of these compounds.”
“Objective-To compare the effects of surgical correction of left displaced abomasum (LDA) by means of omentopexy via right flank laparotomy or 2-step laparoscopy-guided abomasopexy on postoperative abomasal emptying rate in lactating dairy cows.

Design-Controlled clinical trial.

Animals-30 lactating dairy cows with an LDA.

Procedures-Cows were alternately assigned to 2 groups of 15 cows each to receive surgical correction of LDA by means of 2-step laparoscopy-guided abomasopexy or omentopexy via right flank laparotomy. A 50% D-Xylose solution (0.5 g/kg [0.23 g/lb]) was injected into the abomasal lumen during surgery.

Study Design: Prospective.

Setting: Tertiary referral hospital.

Patients: Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients.

Interventions: The patients in the systemic therapy group received consecutive administration of 100 mg intravenous methylprednisolone in the first day, 80 mg/day oral prednisolone in 3 divided doses for the next 2 days, and continued with oral administration of steroids by tapering the dose 20 mg in every 2 days. The patients in the combined treatment group received intratympanic injection of methylprednisolone (an approximate dose of 0.5 ml of 125 mg/ml). A total of 5 injections on alternate days were performed.

Main

Outcome Measures: selleck chemicals llc The mean and median PTA gains of systemic corticosteroid therapy (SCT) group were 7.5 and 5 dB at 5th day, 12.1 and 7.5 dB at 10th day, and 13.0 and 8.8 Selleckchem BMN-673 dB at 15th day. The mean and median PTA gains for combined treatment (CT) group were 12.5 and 7.5, 17.8 and 13.8, 21.8 and 20.0 dB, respectively.

Results: Both the mean and the median PTA gains were statistically significantly different between SCT and CT

groups. According to improved hearing results (more than 10 dB gain), there was statistically significant difference between SCT and CT groups. None of the patients had an important complication.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that adding intratympanic methylprednisolone to systemic therapy increases the probability of hearing recovery in ISSHL patients.”
“The potential of 12 fungal strains to produce carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) and protease on Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) wastes was investigated under conditions of solid state fermentation. Ulocladium botrytis (Preuss) was selected as the best fungus for the production of both enzymes. The best nitrogen sources Galunisertib inhibitor for production of CMCase and protease were yeast extract and malt extract, respectively. CMCase and protease were purified by isopropanol (1:1) precipitation and column chromatography on Sephadex G-100 and DEAE-cellulose.

Purification fold of 47.34 and 51.78, with 852.11 and 1,469.38 U/mg specific activity was achieved with 40.3 and 56.25% recovery after purification of CMCase and protease, respectively. The purified CMCase expressed its maximal activity at 60 degrees C and pH 5.2, showed good stability in the pH range of 5.2-5.4 and its midpoint of thermal inactivation (Tm) was 60 degrees C after 75 min exposure. The purified protease expressed its maximal activity at 35 degrees C and pH 5.2, showed good stability in the pH range of 5.6-6.0 and its midpoint of thermal inactivation (Tm) was 35 degrees C after 75 min exposure. The best substrate concentration for CMCase was 1.2% (w/v) Na-CMC and for protease, it was 0.8% (w/v) casein. The best enzyme concentration for the two tested enzymes was 0.4 U/ml. Ions of Ca2+, Na+ and K+ showed a stimulatory effect but sodium arsenate and iodoacetate showed an inhibitory effect.

The structures of the new metabolites were characterised by spectroscopic analysis and chemical degradation. Of the new compounds isolated, alterporriol F was highly cytotoxic towards HeLa and KB cells, with IC50 values of 6.5 and 7.0 mu g mL-1.”
“Background: The basic life support (BLS) termination of resuscitation (TOR) rule recommends transport and continued resuscitation when cardiac arrest is witnessed by EMT-Ds, or there is a return of spontaneous circulation, or a shock is given, and prior studies

have suggested the transport rate should fall to 37%.

Methods and results: This real-time prospective multi-center implementation trial evaluated the THZ1 in vivo BLS TOR rule for compliance, transport rate and provider and physician comfort. Both provider and physician noted their decision-making rationale and ranked their comfort on a 5-point Likert scale. Functional survival was measured

at discharge. Of 2421 cardiac arrests, eFT-508 cell line 953 patients were eligible for the rule, which was applied correctly for 755 patients (79%) of which 388 were terminated. 565 patients were transported resulting in a reduction of the transport rate from 100% (historical control) to 59% (p < 0.001). The BLS TOR rule was not followed in 198 eligible patients (21%) and they were all transported despite meeting the criteria to terminate. Providers cited 241 reasons for non-compliance: family distress, short transport time interval, younger age and public venue. All 198 transported patients, non-compliant with the rule, died. Both providers and physicians were comfortable with using the rule to guide TOR (median [IQR] of 5 [4,5]; p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

This implementation LB-100 manufacturer trial confirmed the accuracy of the BLS TOR rule in identifying futile out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) resuscitations, significantly reduced the transport rate of futile OHCA and most providers and physicians were comfortable following the rule’s recommendations. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objective: To use statistical and root cause analysis to clarify relationships between labeling errors and causal factors in an anatomic pathology gross room and to identify potential solutions.

Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on quality-assurance records of Associated Regional and University Pathologists (ARUP) Laboratories/University of Utah Department of Pathology between July 2009 and April 2011.

Results: Eighty-five errors had occurred among the 45,000 cases processed over the study period. A total of 27.0% of errors were committed by residents, although they processed only 5.5% of cases. Errors were associated with case complexity. Root cause analysis identified the mechanical cassette labeler, the size and layout of the gross room, and process standardization as areas requiring improvement.

All rights reserved.”
“A bactericidal mechanism mediated by human serum was investigated by a field emission scanning electron microscope and a strain of drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. When the bacteria were treated with meropenem, a carbapenem antibiotic, spheroplasts and bulges (spheroidization) appeared Tubastatin A after 1-3 h. When 40% serum was added to the bacteria, the bacteria

agglutinated within 2 min and then lysed after 5-30 min. Immunoelectron micrographic analyses showed dispositions of complement component C9 molecules on the cell surface of lysed bacteria by the serum treatment that might suggest formation of a membrane attack complex. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) depletion from the serum diminished the lytic activity and adding human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) restored it, suggesting that lysis was induced by specific IgG binding to the bacteria. IVIG may help patients with less IgG against bacteria to overcome severe infection.”
“The purposes of this systematic/critical review are: 1) to identify studies on the effects of exercise on chronic insomnia and sleep complaints in middle-aged and older adults and to compare the results of exercise with those obtained with hypnotic medications and 2) to discuss potential mechanisms by which exercise could promote sleep

in insomniac patients. We identified studies from 1983 through 2011 using MEDLINE, SCOPUS and Web of Science. For systematic

analyses, only studies assessing the chronic effects of exercise on sleep in people with sleep complaints or chronic insomnia were considered. We used the following keywords when searching FK866 clinical trial for articles: insomnia, sleep, sleep complaints, exercise and physical activity. For a critical review, studies were selected on the effects of exercise and possible mechanisms that may explain the effects of exercise on insomnia. We identified five studies that met our inclusion Eltanexor cell line criteria for systematic review. Exercise training is effective at decreasing sleep complaints and insomnia. Aerobic exercise has been more extensively studied, and its effects are similar to those observed after hypnotic medication use. Mechanisms are proposed to explain the effects of exercise on insomnia. There is additional documented evidence on the antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects of exercise. Exercise is effective to decrease sleep complaints and to treat chronic insomnia. Exercise presented similar results when compared with hypnotics; however, prospective studies comparing the effects of exercise with medical and non-medical treatments are warranted before including exercise as a first- line treatment for chronic insomnia are necessary.”
“Pressure on health care systems due to the increasing expenditures of the elderly population is pushing policy makers to adopt new regulation and payment schemes for nursing home services.

In experiment 2, COC and IVM culture media were subjected to fatty acid (FA) analysis prior and after maturation with t10,c12 CLA or without it (control). Total lipids and FA profiles in oocytes, cumulus cells and culture media were determined by gas chromatography. t10,c12 CLA supplementation to IVM medium improved (p = 0.05) embryo quality evaluated morphologically. This effect was associated with t10,c12 CLA presence (3.1 +/- 0.7%, p = 0.04) and Selleckchem GSK690693 lower levels of arachidonic acid in FA profile

of t10,c12 CLA mature oocytes (immature oocytes = 4.4 +/- 1.9%, t10,c12 CLA mature oocytes = 1.0 +/- 0.7%, p = 0.05). Differences in myristic and eicotrienoic acids, saturated and unsaturated FA concentrations between oocytes and cumulus cells were detected (p <= 0.05). In conclusion, the presence of t10,c12 CLA during maturation interfered on lipid metabolism improving bovine oocyte competence MLN2238 to develop into higher quality embryos.”
“Background and objective: The secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is a major anti-elastase barrier at the epithelial surfaces of upper respiratory tract. In addition to its anti-protease activity, SLPI has been shown to express anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties.

Methods: We measured SLPI concentration in nasal lavage fluid of healthy volunteers

after challenge with endotoxin (LPS) and evaluated SLPI effects in vitro on neutrophil chemotaxis, adhesion, cytokine (IL-8) release and apoptosis.

Results: SLPI concentration in nasal lavage (n = 9) 2,6 and 24 h PI3K inhibitor after the challenge with LPS (25 mu g) increased from 32% to 238% compared with baseline (226 +/- 71 ng/mL). In vitro, SLPI (20-80 mu g/mL) induced neutrophil chemotaxis (sixfold, P < 0.001) and decreased neutrophil apoptosis by 73% (P = 0.006), relative to controls. However, SLPI had no affect on IL-8 release or neutrophil adhesion to fibronectin. SLPI-positive immunoreactivity

was co-localized with neutrophils in lung specimens from patients with COPD.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate upregulation of SLPI in response to LPS in nasal secretions and show anti-apoptotic effects of SLPI in primary human neutrophils suggesting a new role of SLPI during neutrophilic inflammation.”
“Objectives:To determine the clinical presentation and treatment outcome of pediatric intracranial cavernous malformation (CM) in a single-centered institution. Methods: Clinical data review of 30 patients under 18 years-old who had undergone surgery for cavernous malformation from January 1993 to December 2001. Results: The Study Group included 18 males and 12 females (mean age: 8.7 years-old). Symptoms at presentation were seizures (16/30, 53.3%), headache (15/30, 50.0%), and focal neurological deficits (11/30, 36.6%). Multiple cavernous malformations were found in 5/30 (16.6%).

serpens was attested through immunocytochemistry analysis. Gold particles were observed in all cellular

compartments, including the cytoplasm, plasma membrane, flagellum, flagellar membrane and flagellar pocket. Go6983 Interestingly, some gold particles were visualized free in the flagellar pocket, suggesting the release of the cruzipain-like molecule. The antigenic properties of the cruzipain-like molecules of P. serpens were also analyzed. Interestingly, sera from chagasic patients recognized both cellular and extracellular antigens of P. serpens, including the cruzipain-like molecule. These results point to the use of P. serpens antigens, especially the cruzipain-like cysteine-peptidases, as an alternative vaccination approach to T. cruzi infection.”
“The purpose of this study was to investigate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and associated factors in patients with chronic neck pain (CNP). The HRQOL of patients with CNP was assessed by the Short Form-36 questionnaire in this cross-sectional study. To evaluate the psychological factors related to HRQOL, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Chinese Health Questionnaire, and Beck Anxiety Inventory MK5108 in vivo were used. The scores for the eight subscales of Short Form-36 were all lower

than the Taiwanese age-matched normative values (rho < 0.001). The two most strongly affected subscales were the role-physical subscale and the bodily pain subscale; both scores were below half the score of the age-/sex-matched normative values. The physical components summary score, a summary measure, was moderately correlated with age (rho=-0.43), education level (rho=0.37) and Beck Anxiety Inventory score (rho =-0.36). The mental components Wortmannin in vitro summary score was moderately to highly correlated with the Chinese Health Questionnaire score (rho=-0.72), the neuroticism domain of Eysenck Personality

Questionnaire (rho = -0.52) and Beck Anxiety Inventory score (rho = -0.41). The HRQOL of patients with CNP was worse than that of normal subjects across all domains. Furthermore, patients with a neurotic personality, minor psychiatric morbidity and higher anxiety status showed poor mental health, as measured by the Short Form-36. We found that patients with CNP had multiple physical and mental health problems in terms of. The mental health of patients with CNP was strongly associated with various psychological factors. Comprehensive assessment of the physical and mental functioning of patients with CNP can improve the management and care of these patients.”
“A novel 96-microwell-based spectrophotometric assay has been developed and validated for the determination of rosuvastatin calcium (ROS-Ca) in tablets. The formation of a colored charge-transfer (CT) complex between rosuvastatin calcium (ROS-Ca) as n-electron donor and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) as a pi-electron acceptor was investigated, for the first time.

However, a multitude of subtle changes were detected by an integrated analysis of the “”omics”" data, which indicated modulated inflammation of adipose tissue, improved endothelial

function, affected oxidative stress, and increased liver fatty acid oxidation.

Conclusion: An intervention with selected dietary products affected inflammatory processes, oxidative stress, and metabolism in humans, as shown by large-scale profiling of genes, proteins, and metabolites in plasma, urine, and adipose tissue. This trial was registered at clinical trials.gov as NCT00655798. Am J Clin Nutr 2010;91:1044-59.”
“Magnetic, magnetoresistive and structural properties selleck kinase inhibitor were studied for [Tb/Ti](n) and [Tb/Si](n) multilayers which were prepared by rf-sputtering. The thickness of the Tb layers varied from 1.5 to 12 nm. The selleck chemicals llc thickness of 2 nm nonmagnetic spacers of Ti or Si was kept constant. Both anisotropic and isotropic magnetoresistance was observed in [Tb/Ti](n) and [Tb/Si](n) multilayers. A decrease in the thickness of the terbium layers

led to a decrease in the anisotropic contribution to the total magnetoresistance. The negative isotropic magnetoresistanse in [Tb/Ti](n) and [Tb/Si](n) multilayers can be attributed to the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) and/or high field isotropic magnetoresistance. The structure of the samples of both types enabled the existence of the GMR effect. (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3544043]“
“Renal transplantation in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a medical and surgical challenge. Detailed longitudinal epidemiological studies on large populations are lacking and it is mandatory to care better for these patients. The success of such a project requires the development of a validated epidemiological database. Herein, we present the results of the largest longitudinal study to date on renal transplant in patients with ADPKD. The 15-year outcomes following renal transplantation of 534 ADPKD patients were compared with 4779 non-ADPKD patients. This comprehensive, longitudinal, multicenter French

study was performed using the validated database, DIVAT (Donnees Informatisees et VAlidees en Transplantaion). We demonstrate that renal transplantation in 10058-F4 inhibitor ADPKD is associated with better graft survival, more thromboembolic complications, more metabolic complications, and increased incidence of hypertension, whereas the prevalence of infections is not increased. This study provides important new insights that could lead to a better care for renal transplant patients with ADPKD.”
“Background: Emerging evidence suggests that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22: 6n-23), the principal omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid in brain gray matter, positively regulates cortical metabolic function and cognitive development. However, the effects of DHA supplementation on functional cortical activity in human subjects are unknown.

In the present study, we demonstrate that systemic chronic administration of M30 resulted in up-regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor Tideglusib price (HIF)-1 alpha protein levels in various brain regions (e.g. cortex, striatum, and hippocampus) and spinal cord of adult mice. Real-time RT-PCR revealed that M30 differentially induced HIF-1 alpha-dependent target genes,

including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), erythropoietin (EPO), enolase-1, transferrin receptor (TfR), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and glucose transporter (GLUT)-1. In addition, mRNA expression levels of the growth factors, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and three antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-1, and

glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) were up-regulated by M30 treatment in a brain-region-dependent manner. ZD1839 Signal transduction immunoblotting studies revealed that M30 induced a differential enhanced phosphorylation of protein kinase C (PKC), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK kinase (MEK), protein kinase B (PKB/Akt), and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3 beta). Together, these results suggest that the multifunctional iron chelator M30 can up-regulate a number of neuroprotective-adaptive mechanisms and pro-survival signaling pathways in the brain that might function as important therapeutic targets for the drug in the context of neurodegenerative disease therapy. (C) 2011 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Several arenaviruses, chiefly Lassa virus (LASV) and Junin virus in West Africa and Argentina, respectively, cause hemorrhagic fever (HF) disease in humans that is associated with high morbidity and significant mortality. see more The investigation of antiviral strategies to combat HF arenaviruses is hampered by the requirement of biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) facilities to work with these viruses. These biosafety hurdles could be overcome by the use of recombinant single-cycle infectious arenaviruses. To explore this concept, we have

developed a recombinant lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) (rLCMV Delta GP/GFP) where we replaced the viral glycoprotein (GP) with the green fluorescent protein (GFP). We generated high titers of GP-pseudotyped rLCMV Delta GP/GFP via genetic trans complementation using stable cell lines that constitutively express LCMV or LASV GPs. Replication of these GP-pseudotyped rLCMV Delta GP/GFP viruses was restricted to GP-expressing cell lines. This system allowed us to rapidly and reliably characterize and quantify the neutralization activities of serum antibodies against LCMV and LASV within a BSL-2 facility. The sensitivity of the GFP-based microneutralization assay we developed was similar to that obtained with a conventionally used focus reduction neutralization (FRNT) assay.