Biomedical subjects

C Hunt

Publications and source records attributed to C Hunt.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Faecal corticosterone concentrations indicate that separately housed male mice are not more stressed than group housed males.

Mice account for over 80% of all animals used in experimentation. This study investigated how different housing conditions affected stress levels by measuring both corticosterone levels, using non-invasive faecal collection, and behaviour. Sixty outbred MF1 male mice were used which were separated into five different housing conditions at the beginning of the study, (A) individually housed, floor area 490 cm(2) per individual, (B) groups of three mice, floor area 163 cm(2) per individual, (C) groups of three mice, floor area 320 cm(2) per individual, (D) groups of six mice, floor area 160 cm(2) per individual, (E) groups of six mice, floor area 230 cm(2) with extra height per individual to allow visual contact. Mice in all housing conditions were provided with a basic enrichment of paper bedding and a plastic house. The results from this study showed that singly housed mice reduced their corticosterone levels over time after separation reaching a minimum from 14 days onwards. Groups of 6 mice housed together showed no difference over time. Also there was no significant difference in corticosterone levels between the different housing densities, with no differences for aggression or stereotypical behaviour suggesting that there is no ideal group density for this strain and sex of mouse. Providing additional enrichment to the cages caused a significant decrease in corticosterone levels for group housed mice, but individually housed mice remained unaffected by increasing their enrichment level. They spent significantly more time sleeping in the enhanced cage but without any reduction in stereotypical behaviour. For group housed mice, additional enrichment should be mandatory to reduce stress levels and therefore increase their welfare standards, while singly housed mice required only basic levels of enrichment and should be separated from their group for a minimum of 2 weeks before measurements are taken.

Aggression↗

PubMed2004

Postprandial plasma ghrelin is suppressed proportional to meal calorie content in normal-weight but not obese subjects.

Circulating levels of the gastric hormone ghrelin rise before and decrease after a meal. In normal-weight subjects, postprandial suppression of ghrelin is proportional to calories consumed. Obese individuals have lower fasting ghrelin levels; however, it is unclear whether the obese show normal postprandial suppression. This study aimed to compare postprandial ghrelin responses in normal-weight and obese subjects, using mixed macronutrient meals with varied fat and calorie content. Postprandial ghrelin response was measured in normal-weight insulin-sensitive subjects and obese insulin-resistant subjects, after six test meals with different fat and calorie content (250-3000 kcal). Increasing the calorie content of meals in normal-weight subjects progressively lowered nadir levels of ghrelin. The obese had lower fasting ghrelin levels, and the reduction after the consumption of all test meals was less than the normal-weight subjects. The lowest postprandial levels in the obese were no different to the nadir in normal-weight volunteers after 1000-, 2000-, and 3000-kcal meals. Thus, circulating ghrelin levels decreased in normal-weight subjects after mixed meals. Obese subjects demonstrated a much reduced ghrelin postprandial suppression. This reduced suppression may influence satiety, thus reinforcing obesity.

Energy Intake↗

PubMed2004

Transfection of human tumour cells with Mre11 siRNA and the increase in radiation sensitivity and the reduction in heat-induced radiosensitization.

Double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) are potentially lethal DNA lesions induced by ionizing radiation. In eukaryotes, DSBs can be repaired by homologous recombination (HR) or non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). DNA repair protein Mre11 participates in both the NHEJ and HR DNA repair pathways. Hyperthermia has been used clinically as a radiosensitizer. However, the mechanisms by which radiosensitization is induced by hyperthermia, especially moderate hyperthermia (41 degrees C) are not fully understood. Previous studies suggest that 41 degrees C reduces the nuclear Mre11 protein level in a manner that correlates with heat-induced changes in radiation sensitivity. Therefore, siRNA technology was used in the present study to reduce Mre11 gene expression to determine if reduced Mre11 protein levels induced radiosensitization and if such radiosensitization is similar to that induced by moderate hyperthermia. The results show that (1) the cellular level of the Mre11 protein was reduced about 60 +/- 18% by a 24-h treatment with siRNA. Results from the Mre11 protein turnover assay showed a half-life of 11.6 +/- 0.5 h for the Mre11 protein, which is consistent with reduction in protein level in 24 h after Mre11 siRNA treatment assuming a delay of 4-8 h to reduce RNA levels. After 48 h in siRNA, cellular Mre11 protein levels increased to approximately pretreatment levels. NSY cells were sensitized to ionizing radiation after 24 h of treatment with Mre11 siRNA. Two hours at 41 degrees C did not increase the radiation sensitivity of cells with a reduced Mre11 protein level following a 24-h siRNA treatment. These data support the conclusion that the DSB repair protein, Mre11, appears to be a target for radiosensitization by moderate hyperthermia.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2004

Augmentation mammoplasty and "silicone-osis".

BACKGROUND: Claims have been made that breast augmentation induces a previously unrecognized disease ("silicone-osis"). AIMS: To confirm the existence of "silicone-osis", qualify and quantify its characteristics. METHODS: In this population-based retrospective cohort study, the health status of 458 female Sydney residents who had augmentation mammoplasty for cosmetic reasons ("augmentation mammoplasty-exposed" or "exposed" cohort) between 1979 and 1983 was compared with the health status of 687 female Sydney residents who had non-silicone-associated plastic surgery ("augmentation mammoplasty-nonexposed" or "non-exposed" cohort). Both groups were matched for age (+/- 5 years), year of plastic surgery (+/- 2 years), plastic surgeon, anaesthetist and mode of anaesthesia. Outcome measures comprised dummy symptoms to assess reporting bias, as well as symptoms and symptom clusters from a comprehensive 78-symptom list. RESULTS: Dummy variables were not over-reported by the exposed cohort. The following individual symptoms developed more commonly in the exposed cohort after index plastic surgery: "memory loss/confusion", "altered bowel habit", "chest pain made worse by deep breathing", "shortness of breath after walking up 10 steps", "breast pain", "sweating mainly at night" and "tunnel vision". Of eight identified symptom clusters, three were rejected as biologically unimportant: "joint swelling of the bunion joint", "haemorrhoids" and "breast lumps" (the latter two occurring more commonly in the non-exposed cohort). In contrast, five symptom clusters were thought to have potential biological importance and occurred more commonly in the exposed cohort. The symptom "night sweats" was common to all five clusters, and comprised the sole symptom in one instance. The other four multisymptom clusters were also characterized by "low energy" (lethargy) and "pins and needles", whereas "breast pain", "impaired memory", "muscle pain" and "reflux", occurred in three of the four clusters. CONCLUSION: Cluster analysis suggested the existence of a multisystem disorder occurring more commonly in the exposed cohort and characterized by night sweats, lethargy, breast pain, impaired mentation, reflux, paraesthesiae, hand muscle weakness and myalgia. The argument against this being a new disease entity --"silicone-osis"-- however, was its presence, albeit at lower frequency, in the silicone-unexposed cohort. Thus this study did not confirm the existence of a new disease entity "silicone-osis" uniquely and causally associated with silicone exposure. The possible interpretations of these findings are discussed.

Autoimmune Diseases↗

PubMed2003

Individualised homeopathy as an adjunct in the treatment of childhood asthma: a randomised placebo controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Homeopathy is frequently used to treat asthma in children. In the common classical form of homeopathy, prescriptions are individualised for each patient. There has been no rigorous investigation into this form of treatment for asthma. METHODS: In a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial the effects of individualised homeopathic remedies were compared with placebo medication in 96 children with mild to moderate asthma as an adjunct to conventional treatment. The main outcome measure was the active quality of living subscale of the Childhood Asthma Questionnaire administered at baseline and follow up at 12 months. Other outcome measures included other subscales of the same questionnaire, peak flow rates, use of medication, symptom scores, days off school, asthma events, global assessment of change, and adverse reactions. RESULTS: There were no clinically relevant or statistically significant changes in the active quality of life score. Other subscales, notably those measuring severity, indicated relative improvements but the sizes of the effects were small. There were no differences between the groups for other measures. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides no evidence that adjunctive homeopathic remedies, as prescribed by experienced homeopathic practitioners, are superior to placebo in improving the quality of life of children with mild to moderate asthma in addition to conventional treatment in primary care.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed2003

Corn silage management: effects of hybrid, maturity, chop length, and mechanical processing on rate and extent of digestion.

Five experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of hybrid, chop length, maturity, and mechanical processing of corn silage on dry matter and nutrient disappearance in the rumen. Corn silage that had not been dried or ground was incubated in macro in situ bags (30 x 35 cm) for 8, 16, 24,48, and 96 h. Experiments la and 2 evaluated the effects of maturity and mechanical processing for two corn silage hybrids harvested at two theoretical lengths-of-cut. Experiments 3 through 5 evaluated the effects of chop length and mechanical processing for two corn silage hybrids harvested at two-thirds milkline. The hybrid with low neutral fiber (NDF) concentrations had greater dry matter and starch disappearance than the hybrid with high NDF concentrations. The effect of chop length on nutrient disappearance was variable across experiments 3 through 5. Processing improved dry matter disappearance in experiments la, 2 (two-thirds milkline and blackline), 3, 4, and 5 at the majority of ruminal incubation timepoints. Starch disappearance was greater for unprocessed corn silage in experiment la (hard dough and two-thirds milkline) and was greater for processed corn silage in experiments 2 and 5. However, there was no consistent trend in starch disappearance between processed and unprocessed corn silage in experiments 3 and 4. This can be partially explained by the high disappearance of starch (experiment 3, > or = 98% and experiment 4, > or = 94%) by 24 h of ruminal incubation. Minimal differences were detected in NDF disappearance between processed and unprocessed corn silage across maturities. In experiments 2 and 5, crude protein disappearance was improved due to processing at some incubation timepoints. Rate of dry matter, starch (one-third milkline and two-thirds milkline), and NDF disappearance tended to increase when corn silage was mechanically processed in experiment 2. Dry matter, starch, and crude protein disappearance tended to be greater for corn silage harvested at the early maturity (one-third milkline) in experiment 2 compared with advanced maturities (two-thirds milkline and blackline). Disappearance of NDF was greater at early maturities compared with advanced maturities in experiments 1a and 2. Rate of dry matter (hybrid 3845), starch, and NDF (hybrid 3845) disappearance tended to decrease as maturity advanced from one-third milkline to blackline in experiment 2. These results suggest that the macro in situ method can be used to evaluate nutrient disappearance in the rumen.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

DSM-IV generalized anxiety disorder in the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being.

BACKGROUND: This paper reports population data on DSM-IV generalized anxiety disorder from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being. METHODS: The data were obtained from a nationwide household survey of adults using a stratified multi-stage sampling process. A response rate of 78.1% resulted in 10,641 persons being interviewed. Diagnoses were made using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The interview was computerized and conducted by trained lay interviewers. RESULTS: Prevalence in the total sample was 2.8% for 1-month GAD and 36% for 12-month GAD. Persons over 55 years of age were less likely to have GAD than those in the younger age groups. Logistic regression analysis also showed that a diagnosis of GAD was significantly associated with being of younger to middle age, being separated divorced or widowed, not having tertiary qualifications or being unemployed. Co-morbidity with another affective, anxiety, substance use or personality disorders was common, affecting 68% of the sample with 1-month DSM-IV GAD. GAD was associated with significant disablement, and 57% of the sample with DSM-IV GAD had consulted a health professional for a mental health problem in the prior 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The survey provides population data on DSM-IV GAD and its correlates. GAD is a common disorder that is accompanied by significant morbidity and high rates of co-morbidity with affective and anxiety disorders, and is associated with marital status, education, employment status, but not sex. Changes to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria did not appear to affect the prevalence rate compared to previous population surveys.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

A monometallic Rh(III) tetraphosphine complex: reductive activation of CH2Cl2 and selective meso to racemic tetraphosphine ligand isomerization.

The first Rh complex with an eta(4)-coordinated rac-et,ph-P4 ligand [et,ph-P4 = (Et2PCH2CH2)(Ph)PCH2P(Ph)(CH2CH2PEt2)] has been synthesized by reacting [Rh(nbd)2]BF4 with meso- or rac-et,ph-P4 in dichloromethane. The reaction occurs fairly rapidly at room temperature to form [rac-RhCl2(eta(4)-et,ph-P4)](+) in high yields, regardless of whether one starts with mixed or even pure meso-et,ph-P4 ligand. This unusual and highly selective metal assisted isomerization of the meso-et,ph-P4 ligand to its rac-et,ph-P4 disastereomer will be discussed.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Increased activator protein 1 activity as well as resistance to heat-induced radiosensitization, hydrogen peroxide, and cisplatin are inhibited by indomethacin in oxidative stress-resistant cells.

It has been established that tumor cells develop resistance to a variety of therapeutic agents after multiple exposures to these agents/drugs. Many of these therapeutic agents also appear to increase the activity of transcription factors, such as activator protein 1 (AP-1), believed to be involved in cellular responses to oxidative stress. Therefore, we hypothesized that cellular resistance to cancer therapeutic agents may involve the increased activity of transcription factors that govern resistance to oxidative stress, such as AP-1. To investigate this hypothesis, a previously characterized cisplatin, hyperthermia, and oxidative stress-resistant Chinese hamster fibroblast cell line, OC-14, was compared to the parental HA-1 cell line. Electrophoretic mobility shift and Western blot assays performed on extracts isolated from OC-14 cells demonstrated a 10-fold increase in constitutive AP-1 DNA-binding activity as well as increased constitutive c-Fos and c-Jun immunoreactive protein relative to HA-1 cells. Treatment of OC-14 cells with indomethacin inhibited constitutive increases in AP-1 DNA-binding activity and c-Fos/c-Jun-immunoreactive protein levels. Clonogenic survival assays demonstrated that pretreatment with indomethacin, at concentrations that inhibited AP-1 activity, significantly reduced the resistance of OC-14 cells to heat-induced radiosensitization, hydrogen peroxide, and cisplatin. These results demonstrate a relationship between increases in AP-1 DNA-binding activity and increased cellular resistance to cancer therapeutic agents and oxidative stress that is inhibited by indomethacin. These results support the hypothesis that inhibition of AP-1 activity with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as indomethacin, may represent a useful adjuvant to cancer therapy.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Subtelomeric sequence from the right arm of Schizosaccharomyces pombe chromosome I contains seven permease genes.

The sequence has been determined of 80 888 bp of contiguous subtelomeric DNA, including the isp5 gene, from the right arm of chromosome I of Schizosaccharomyces pombe; 27 open reading frames (ORFs) longer than 100 codons are present, giving a density of one gene per 3.0 kb. Seven of the predicted proteins are members of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) of transport proteins, including four amino acid permease homologues, bringing this family of amino acid permease sequences to 17 in Sz. pombe, and a phylogenetic analysis is presented. Also encoded is an allantoate permease homologue, a sulphate permease homologue and a probable urea active transporter. Predicted non-membrane proteins include a 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACC deaminase), a class III aminotransferase, serine acetyltransferase, protein-L-isoaspartate O-methyltransferase, alpha-glucosidase, alpha-galactosidase, esterase/lipase, oxidoreductase of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family, aldehyde dehydrogenase, formamidase, amidase, flavohaemoprotein, a putative translation initiation inhibitor and a protein with similarity to a filamentous fungal conidiation-specific protein. The remaining six ORFs are likely to encode proteins, either because they have sequence similarity with hypothetical proteins or because they are known to be transcribed. Introns are scarce in the sequenced region: only three ORFs contain introns, with only one having multiple introns. The sequenced region also contains a single Tf1 transposon long terminal repeat (LTR). The sequence is derived from cosmid clones c869, c922 and c1039 and has been submitted to the EMBL database under entries SPAC869 (Accession No. AL132779), SPAC922 (AL133522) and SPAC1039 (AL133521).

Chromosomes, Fungal↗

PubMed2001

Polymorphisms in the angiotensinogen gene are associated with carotid intimal-medial thickening in females from a community-based population.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms within genes of the renin-angiotensin system have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We investigated the association of polymorphisms in the angiotensinogen (AGT) and angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AGTR1) genes with increased intima-media thickness (IMT) and the presence of plaques in carotid arteries. METHODS: Subjects (1111) from the Perth Carotid Ultrasound Disease Assessment Study (CUDAS) were genotyped for three polymorphisms: two in the promoter of the AGT gene, G-6A and A-20C; and one in the AGTR1 gene, A1166C. RESULTS: Using multivariate generalised linear models, the AGT-6A allele (P<0.001) and the AGT-20C allele (P<0.03) were significantly associated with increased mean carotid IMT in females but not in males when adjusted for conventional risk factors. The AGTR1 A1166C polymorphism did not show any significant relationship to mean IMT. Results suggest that the I allele of the angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism may interact with the AGT-6G allele to increase mean carotid IMT in the population as a whole. None of the polymorphisms investigated were significantly associated with the presence of carotid plaques. CONCLUSION: This study shows that polymorphisms in the angiotensinogen gene are associated with an increased risk of carotid intimal-medial wall thickening in females.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Selective attentional bias for pain-related stimuli amongst pain fearful individuals.

Recent research indicates that people who are fearful of pain tend to report more negative pain experiences. It also seems that attentional mechanisms may be particularly important in the perception of painful stimuli, especially amongst pain fearful individuals. Drawing on a paradigm used to examine biased cognitive processes in the emotional disorders, the current study investigated whether the fear of pain would be related to a greater selective attentional bias in favour of pain-related stimuli. In order to determine the nature of this bias, stimuli material were varied in terms of whether they were related to pain sensations, were related to socially threatening situations or were relatively positive. Those with a high fear of pain exhibited a selective attentional bias towards pain-related information, compared to those classified as low in the fear of pain. No group differences were found for either social threat or positive stimuli. These results indicate that one reason why those with a high fear of pain are particularly susceptible to negative pain experiences could be due to biased attentional processes. Suggestions for cognitive interventions designed to reduce such biases are discussed, as are directions for future research.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Process capability measurement of frequent replacement toric soft contact lenses.

PURPOSE: Frequent replacement soft contact lenses, and particularly toric soft lenses, require good reproducibility in order to avoid clinical problems arising from manufacturing variations in their parameters. This study assessed the actual and potential process capability of six frequent replacement toric soft lenses in relation to sphere power, cylinder power, cylinder axis, total diameter, back optic zone radius and centre thickness. METHOD: In total, 1260 lenses consisting of three sphere powers (plano, -3.00 and -6.00 D) were measured for six lens types. Three cylinder powers and six cylinder axes were assessed for each sphere power, except for one lens type where only two cylinder powers were available. RESULTS: Significant differences in reproducibility were found between the lens types tested. Process capability and optical quality decreased with increasing sphere power for all lenses. Cylinder power process capability tended to be better than that for sphere power. In general, lenses showed adequate reproducibility with those dimensions likely to affect lens fit, namely total diameter, back optic zone radius and centre thickness. CONCLUSIONS: Process capability was shown to be a useful measure of contact lens reproducibility for comparing toric soft lenses and assessing their potential for use on a frequent replacement basis. The results suggest some need for improvement in manufacturing accuracy and precision.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

The effect of multidose antenatal betamethasone on maternal and infant outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine whether prolonged betamethasone therapy is, as has been suggested, associated with adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: A secondary multivariate analysis of a randomized controlled trial was performed to determine whether duration of betamethasone therapy was associated with adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes. RESULTS: There were 414 fetuses whose mothers were randomly assigned to trial groups. Final models included only valid cases without missing or averaged data (N = 367 to N = 412, depending on the model). Three or more sets of weekly betamethasone injections were given in 21.3% of cases and > or =4 sets were given in 12.3% of cases. Prolonged antenatal betamethasone therapy was not associated with increases in incidences of antenatal fever, chorioamnionitis, reduced birth weight, suppressed neonatal adrenal function, neonatal sepsis, or neonatal death. It was associated with larger birth weights (P <.05). CONCLUSION: Prolonged antenatal betamethasone therapy was not associated with higher risks of antenatal maternal fever, chorioamnionitis, reduced birth weight, neonatal adrenal suppression, neonatal sepsis, and neonatal death.

Adrenal Insufficiency↗

PubMed2001

Bacterial contamination of amniotic membrane.

AIM: In the light of interest being shown in amniotic membrane grafts for use in ocular surgery, this study aims to identify the bacterial contaminants commonly found on placental membranes from both caesarean and vaginal deliveries. METHODS: Samples of placental membrane were taken following both elective caesarean and normal vaginal deliveries. Bacterial contaminants were identified. RESULTS: All samples were contaminated. A greater number of different species were recovered from the vaginal deliveries, including several which were actually or potentially pathogenic. CONCLUSION: There is a greater risk of contamination from pathogenic bacteria on placentas from vaginal deliveries. It is recommended that amnion for use in ocular surface procedures should be retrieved only from placentas following elective caesarean deliveries.

Amnion↗

PubMed2001

Women's health after plastic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Allegations that exposure to endogenous silicone, especially related to breast implants, might be causally related to connective tissue disease originated from case studies. More recent comparative studies have implied no such increased risk. The aims of the present study were to compare the prevalence and/or incidence of autoimmune and connective tissue disorders in a population-based cohort of female Sydney residents stratified by augmentation mammoplasty status. METHODS: In this population-based retrospective cohort study, the health status of female Sydney residents who had augmentation mammoplasty for cosmetic reasons between 1979 and 1983 was compared with that of female Sydney residents who had non-silicone-associated plastic surgery over the same period. Both groups were matched for age (+/- 5 years), year of plastic surgery (+/- 2 years), plastic surgeon, anaesthetist and mode of anaesthesia. Outcome measures comprised rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, sicca symptoms polymyositis/ dermatomyositis, connective tissue disease overlap, digital vasospasm, abnormal nailfold capillaroscopy, elevated antinuclear antibody titre, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, livedo reticularis, thyroid disease, multiple sclerosis, axillary lymphadenopathy, fibromyalgia and breast carcinoma. RESULTS: There was no difference in the occurrence of connective tissue diseases or connective tissue disease-related parameters, thyroid disorders, fibromyalgia or multiple sclerosis between cohorts. However, axillary adenopathy and low titre positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) occurred with a significantly greater frequency in the exposed cohort (odds ratio (OR) = 3.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.10-5.84 and OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.03-1.62, respectively). Axillary adenopathy correlated with capsular contracture (relative risk (RR) = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.22-3.51) and also the self-reported development of digital vasospasm (RR = 3.20, 95% CI = 1.46-7.03) after breast augmentation. CONCLUSIONS: No association was found between augmentation mammoplasty exposure and various connective tissue diseases and/or their related features. However, axillary adenopathy and low titre ANA were detected more frequently in the exposed cohort. Women with axillary adenopathy were more likely to have breast capsular contracture and report digital vasospasm post-dating surgery. Given comparable frequencies of higher titre ANA of both cohorts, the finding of elevations of low titre ANA is of dubious clinical significance.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

New method to improve treatment outcomes for radical prostatectomy.

Modifications in radical retropubic prostatectomy that use the deep dorsal vein ligator and either anterior urethropexy or puboprostatic ligament preservation were developed to reduce blood loss and improve continence results. Use of the deep dorsal vein ligator to secure the deep dorsal vein complex also improves visualization of the urethra for transection and the neurovascular bundle for nerve sparing and thereby may assist in laparoscopic radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Human cytomegalovirus strains associated with congenital and perinatal infections.

The genotypes of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) isolates from pediatric patients differs from those of infected adults in Australia. Genotypes were determined by PCR amplification of glycoprotein B (gB) sequences, with subsequent analysis by restriction fragment length polymorphism, single-stranded conformation polymorphism, heteroduplex mobility analysis and direct DNA sequencing. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of gB showed genotypes gB1 (39%) and gB3 (30%) were more prevalent in infected children and two new genotypes (gB6 and gB7) were found. Single-stranded conformation polymorphism was used to group isolates into 22 further subtypes and suggested longitudinal co-infection or viral mutation was occurring over time. Heteroduplex mobility analysis was found to be the most accurate and concise of the four methods used for genotyping HCMV isolates. DNA sequencing was used to confirm the results obtained from heteroduplex mobility analysis, and identified two isolates that were incorrectly genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Heteroduplex mobility analysis efficiently genotyped all samples and allowed estimation of sequence variation between isolates. These data suggest certain gB genotypes are associated more commonly with childhood infections, and these differ from strains associated with invasive disease in HIV patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗