Susan J. Petheram

Intrauterine Cytomegalovirus Infection and Glycoprotein B Genotypes

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) strains display polymorphisms for the gene encoding glycoprotein B (gB; gpUL55). Recent data suggest that the gB genotype may influence the outcome of acquired CMV infections. To determine whether the gB genotype also contributes to the outcome of intrauterine infection, CMV strains were studied from 56 infants with culture-confirmed intrauterine CMV infections who were born in Iowa or Texas. CMV gB genotypes were compared with the neonatal clinical features and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Fifty-three strains (95%) could be assigned a gB genotype. The overall distribution of genotypes was as follows: type 1, 50%; type 2, 18%; type 3, 23%; and type 4, 4%. Strains with the gB 3 genotype were more common among the Iowa infants (P=.082). The gB 3 genotype was more common among infants with asymptomatic infections (P=.004), but geographic location and ascertainment biases may have accounted for these differences. The gB genotypes did not correlate with the neurodevelopmental outcome of intrauterine infection.

Characterization of Human Cytomegalovirus Strains by Analysis of Short Tandem Repeat Polymorphisms

ABSTRACT Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strains display genetic polymorphisms, and these polymorphisms can be analyzed to study viral transmission and pathogenesis. Recently, short tandem repeat (STR) length polymorphisms have been identified in the HCMV genome. We assessed the utility of STRs in characterizing HCMV strains and found that a multiplexed PCR assay using primers based upon these STRs accurately maps HCMV strains. Using primers for 10 microsatellite regions, the STR profiles of 44 wild-type and 2 laboratory strains of HCMV were characterized. The results of STR analysis were compared with those for strain characterization using nucleotide sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. In each instance, STR analysis accurately and specifically identified strains that were indistinguishable or distinct by conventional molecular analysis. Analysis of short tandem repeats also detected polymorphisms that supported simultaneous excretion of two HCMV strains. These results indicate that STR analysis allows rapid, precise molecular characterization of HCMV strains.

Molecular characterization of streptococcus pyogenes isolates collected during periods of increased acute rheumatic fever activity in Utah

Background. Salt Lake City, Utah has seen a continuing resurgence of rheumatic fever (RF) since 1985. Methods. emm genotyping and multilocus sequence typing of streptococcal isolates from periods of increased RF activity were performed. Results. Multiple genotypes were present during 1985 and 1998, two peak years of RF activity, and in 1992, a year with reduced RF activity. emm3 and emm18.1 were present in 1985 and 1998, but not in 1992. Two other emm types, 12 and L28, were significantly elevated in 1998 (a peak RF year) over 1992 (a non-peak RF year). Allelic profiles for the emm3 and emm18.1 isolates exhibited clonality. Conclusions. During years of increased RF activity multiple emm types, including emm18.1 and emm3, were circulating in the community. During a year of decreased RF activity, emm3 and emm18.1 genotypes were absent. The clonality of the emm3 and emm18.1 types suggests that specific clones of both types are important in the resurgence of RF during these peak years. Two other genotypes, emm12 and emmL28, may also be associated with the persistence of RF in the Salt Lake City, UT area.

Use of the Real Estate Market to Establish Light Rail Station Catchment Areas

Considerable literature reports the price effects of light rail transit accessibility on residential properties built principally for owner–occupants. Few studies show the relationship between light rail transit and rental apartment building values; those that have done so have evaluated outcomes within narrow bands of distance from light rail transit stations. The present study closes some of this gap in the research. The association between TRAX, the light rail system operated by the Utah Transit Authority serving Salt Lake County, Utah, and the value of rental apartment buildings in bands a distance from light rail stations of 0.25 mi out to 1.5 mi was estimated. When structural, neighborhood, and location characteristics were controlled for, a positive relationship between TRAX station proximity and rental apartment building values was found to 1.25 mi but not beyond. The implications of these findings are offered.

Compact development as a factor in income resilience among shrinking counties in the United States: Statistical analysis with policy implications

1. Introduction Harry W. Richardson and Chang Woon Nam Part I: Global and Regional Issues 2. International Shrinking Cities: Analysis, classification and prospects Wendell Cox 3.Shrinking Cities in Latin America: An oxymoron? Ivonne Audirac 4. Urban Shrinkage in the EU Gert-Jan Hospers Part II: National Issues 5. Shrinking Cities: The United States Richard Morrill 6.The Landscape of Population Decline in the United States: Considering the roles of the demographic components of change and geography Rachel Franklin 7. Are Large German Cities Really Shrinking? Demographic and economic development in recent years Florian Bartholomae and Chang Woon Nam 8. Urban Shrinkage in Romania: Scope and determinants Alina M. Schoenberg and Daniela Luminita Constantin 9. Shrinking Cities and Processes in Estonia Peter Friedrich, Aivo Ulper and Kadri Ukrainski 10. Shrinking Cities in South Korea: The future Harry W. Richardson and Chang-Hee Christine Bae 11.When Growth Grinds to a Halt: Population and economic development of resource-depleted cities in China Sylvia Ying He 12.India Sukumar Ganapati 13. Are Cities in Taiwan Shrinking? Michael Cheng-Yi Lin Part III: Case Study Cities 14. Driving Shrinking Detroit George Galster 15. Planning for Regional Depopulation in Greater Buffalo Justin Hollander and Bernard Cahill 16. Innovation and Shrinking Cities: What can we learn from Clevelands regional innovation system? Michael S. Fogarty and Gasper A. Garofalo 17. Halle: A shrinking city in Eastern Germany Florian Bartholomae and Chang Woon Nam 18. The Urban Area of Naples: From shrinking city to the metropolitan area Gerardo Schettino 19. Losing Households in a House Divided: The case of Belfast Frank Gaffikin and Ken Sterrett Part IV: General Issues 20. Compact Development as a Factor in Income Resilience among Shrinking Counties in the United States: Statistical analysis with policy implications Arthur C. Nelson, Susan Petheram and Reid Ewing 21. Environmental Impacts of Shrinking Cities Tilman Rave 22. Conclusions Harry W. Richardson and Chang Woon Nam

439 UNIVERSAL SCREENING OF NEWBORN INFANTS FOR CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION AND HEARING LOSS

Purpose Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is an important cause of permanent hearing loss in children. Detection of congenital CMV infection allows early identification of infants at risk of hearing loss. The study objective is to determine if universal screening of newborns for CMV is a useful adjunct to universal hearing screening. Methods Between 3/8/04 and 8/29/04, infants born at four Utah hospitals in the Salt Lake Valley were screened for congenital CMV infection by cell culture assay of saliva. Each sample was run in duplicate. The population sampled corresponded to 31% (1555/5090) of the infants born at the hospitals during the study interval. Concurrently, all infants underwent hearing assessment. Normal newborn nurseries used otoacoustic emission (OAE) screening, whereas Newborn Intensive Care Units used OAE or automated auditory brainstem evoked response (AABR) audiometry for initial hearing assessment. Results Six infants (0.39%) were congenitally infected with CMV. None of the CMV positive infants failed the newborn hearing screen. The cost of the CMV assay was approximately

GLYCOPROTEIN B (gB) GENOTYPE IN CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CMV) INFECTION.|[dagger]| 981

20 per infant, corresponding to approximately

Human cytomegalovirus a sequence and UL144 variability in strains from infected children.

5200/CMV-positive infant. Concurrently, 98% of the 5090 infants passed their initial hearing screen. On subsequent evaluation, 2 infants who failed their initial screen have normal hearing. Follow-up evaluations of the remaining 20 infants are in progress. Conclusions This study demonstrates the feasibility of universal screening for CMV. Compared with other regions of the United States, Utah appears to be a low prevalence state for congenital CMV infection. Using the approaches employed in this study, the cost of statewide screening for CMV would be approximately

Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection.

1.1 million annually. Universal hearing screening alone will not identify infants at risk of subsequent hearing loss due to congenital CMV infection.

Cytomegalovirus transmission in child care homes

Objective: CMV strains are polymorphic for gB, a gene encoding the major immunodominant viral protein. To determine if gB genotype variation contributes to the varied clinical features of congenital infection, CMV strains from infants and children with intrauterine infection (CMV isolation<3 weeks of age) were analyzed.