The authors herein present a rare case of LAM that was treated with long-term use of leuprolide acetate, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa).”
“Background: Literature reviews show numerous options for anesthesia in the small laboratory animals. Many methods are associated with complications, such as high technical effort, difficult monitoring, respiratory and cardiovascular depression, and prolonged sedation. In the present study, we report first time results after repeated use of an intraperitoneal combined anesthesia with a high tolerability. Methods: Three hundred and seventy-four anesthesias were performed on 38 adult PF-6463922 supplier male lewis rats (280-460g). Each animal was

anesthetized repeatedly over a period of three months, using an intraperitoneal combination of Fentanyl-Medetomidine and Midazolam (FMM). The time required for the animals

to lose ear pinch response and the ability to perform a righting and pedal withdrawal reflex was measured. For evaluation of the clinical state, a four-point vitality scale was developed. The anesthesia was antagonized with Naloxone, Flumazenil, and selleck Atipamezole (s.c.). Results: The animals lost all three reflex responses within 5 (+/- 2.4) min of injection. Without antagonism of anesthesia, the ear pinch response returned on average within 125 (+/- 21.5) min. After antagonism of anesthesia, the rats needed 5 (+/- 2.9) min to regain all three reflex responses. No significant differences of vitality-index were measured after repeated use of FMM

during the investigation period. Conclusions: A repeatable and secure anesthesia is indispensable for any experimental studies that require multiple anesthesia of a single animal. Intraperitoneal combination of FMM provides an adequate procedure to induce a well tolerable, repeatable state of anesthesia, which conforms to all the necessary requirements VE-821 price for laboratory rats.”
“Background: Dengue fever and leptospirosis have partially overlapping geographic distributions, similar clinical presentations and potentially life-threatening complications but require different treatments. Distinguishing between these cosmopolitan emerging pathogens represents a diagnostic dilemma of global importance. We hypothesized that perturbations in host biomarkers can differentiate between individuals with dengue fever and leptospirosis during the acute phase of illness. Methods: We randomly selected subjects from a prospective cohort study of acute febrile illness in Bucaramanga, Colombia and tested 19 serum biomarkers by ELISA in dengue fever (DF, n = 113) compared to subjects with leptospirosis (n = 47). Biomarkers were selected for further analysis if they had good discriminatory ability (area under the ROC curve (AUC) bigger than 0.80) and were beyond a reference range (assessed using local healthy controls).

Undoubtedly the emergence of Rb chromosomes changes the ancestral nuclear architecture of 2n = 40 spermatocytes since they establish new types of interactions among chromosomal domains, particularly through centromeric and heterochromatic regions at the nuclear periphery among telocentric and at the nuclear center among Rb metacentric ones.”
“Background and Purpose There is significant variation in individual response to opioid drugs, which may result in inappropriate opioid therapy.

Polymorphisms of the opioid receptor (MOP receptor) may contribute to individual variation in opioid response by affecting receptor function, and the effect may be ligand-specific. We sought buy SIS3 to determine functional differences in MOP receptor signalling at several signalling Tipifarnib pathways using a range of structurally distinct opioid ligands in cells expressing wild-type MOP receptors (MOPr-WT) and the commonly occurring MOP receptor variant, N40D. Experimental Approach MOPr-WT and MOPr-N40D were stably expressed in CHO cells and in AtT-20 cells. Assays of AC inhibition and ERK1/2 phosphorylation were performed on CHO cells, and assays of K activation were performed on AtT-20

cells. Signalling profiles for each ligand were compared between variants. Key Results Buprenorphine efficacy was reduced by over 50% at MOPr-N40D for AC inhibition and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Buprenorphine potency was reduced threefold at MOPr-N40D for K channel activation. Pentazocine efficacy was reduced by 50% for G-protein-gated inwardly rectifying K channel activation at MOPr-N40D. No other differences were observed for any other ligands tested. Conclusions and Implications The N40D variant is present in 10-50% of the population. Buprenorphine is a commonly prescribed opioid analgesic, and many individuals do not

respond to buprenorphine therapy. This study demonstrates that buprenorphine signalling to several effectors via the N40D variant of MOP receptors is impaired, and this may have important consequences in a clinical setting for individuals carrying the N40D allele.”
“Important viral and cellular gene products are regulated by stop codon readthrough and mRNA frameshifting, processes whereby the ribosome detours from the reading frame defined by three nucleotide codons after initiation of translation. click here In the last few years, rapid progress has been made in mechanistically characterizing both processes and also revealing that trans-acting factors play important regulatory roles in frameshifting. Here, we review recent biophysical studies that bring new molecular insights to stop codon readthrough and frameshifting. Lastly, we consider whether there may be common mechanistic themes in -1 and +1 frameshifting based on recent X-ray crystal structures of +1 frameshift-prone tRNAs bound to the ribosome. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. and Societe Francaise de Biochimie et Biologie Moleculaire (SFBBM). All rights reserved.

The study drug was titrated in the pre-CPB period with the aim of maintaining mean arterial pressure (MAP) within +/- A 5 mmHg of a clinician-predetermined target. The primary endpoint was the area under the curve (AUC) for the total time each patient’s MAP was

outside the target range from drug initiation to the start of Pinometostat cost CPB, normalized per hour (AUC(MAP-D)). The predefined non-inferiority criterion for the primary endpoint was a 95% confidence interval (CI) upper limit no greater than 1.50 for the geometric means ratio between clevidipine and NTG. Total mean [standard deviation (SD)] dose pre-bypass was 4.5 (4.7) mg for clevidipine and 6.9 (5.4) mg for NTG (P smaller than 0.05). The geometric mean AUC(MAP-D) for clevidipine was 283 mmHg center dot min center dot hr(-1) (n = 45) and for NTG was 292 mmHg center dot min center dot hr(-1) (n = 48);

the geometric means ratio was 0.97 (95% CI 0.74 to 1.27). The geometric mean AUC(MAP-D) during aortic cannulation was 357.7 mmHg center dot min center dot hr(-1) for clevidipine compared with 190.5 mmHg center dot min center dot hr(-1) for NTG. Mean (SD) heart rate with clevidipine was 76.0 (13.8) beats center dot min(-1) compared with 81.5 (14.4) beats center dot min(-1) for NTG. There were no clinically important differences between groups in adverse events. click here During CABG, clevidipine was not inferior to NTG for blood pressure control pre-bypass.”
“BackgroundControversy exists regarding the pathogenesis of inverted papilloma as it relates to the involvement of human papillomavirus (HPV). The purpose of this report is to describe the prevalence of HPV in nondysplastic, early inverted papilloma and to summarize HPV detection rates

in the general population and in other HPV related neoplasia. MethodsThis case series report characterizes consecutive inverted papilloma patients from January 2005 to August 2012 with regard to smoking history, dysplasia, and HPV detection rates. Presence or absence of low/high risk HPV was determined by standardized in situ hybridization DNA probes. Medline literature review was performed to determine the prevalence of HPV in inverted papilloma without moderate or severe dysplasia. ResultsThirty-six consecutive patients were identified with an average age of 63.6 PD-1 inhibitor (range, 40-84) years; gender: 23 men, 13 women. More than half (55%) were active or former smokers (14% active and 41% former). High/low risk HPV was present in 1 in 36 (2.7%) patients and 1 in 36 (2.7%) had mild dysplasia. In the literature review: (1) HPV was detected in 16.4% of inverted papilloma without dysplasia; (2) oral cavity HPV detection was 4.2% to 11.4% in the normal population; and (3) HPV was normally detected in 85% to 95% of HPV-related neoplasia. ConclusionGiven histological features of inverted papilloma and comparatively low detection rates of HPV in inverted papilloma without dysplasia (2.

Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.”
“Clarin 1 (CLRN1) is a four-transmembrane protein expressed in cochlear hair cells and neural retina, and when mutated it causes Usher syndrome type 3 (USH3). The main human splice variant of CLRN1 is composed of three exons that code for a 232-aa protein. In this study, we aimed to refine the structure of CLRN1 by an examination of transcript splice variants and promoter regions. Analysis of human

click here retinal cDNA revealed 11 CLRN1 splice variants, of which 5 have not been previously reported. We studied the regulation of gene expression by several promoter domains using a luciferase assay, and identified 1000 nt upstream of the translation start site of the primary CLRN1 splice variant as the principal promoter region. Our results suggest that the CLRN1 gene is significantly more complex than previously

described. The complexity of the CLRN1 gene and the identification of multiple splice variants may partially GDC-0973 clinical trial explain why mutations in CLRN1 result in substantial variation in clinical phenotype. European Journal of Human Genetics (2011) 19, 30-35; doi:10.1038/ejhg.2010.140; published online 18 August 2010″
“Albinism is a genetic defect characterized by a loss of pigmentation. The neurosensory retina, which is not pigmented, exhibits pathologic changes secondary to the loss of pigmentation in the retina pigment epithelium (RPE). How the loss of pigmentation in the RPE causes developmental defects in the adjacent neurosensory retina has not been determined, but offers a unique opportunity to investigate the interactions between these two important tissues. One of the genes that causes albinism encodes for an orphan GPCR (OA1) expressed only in pigmented cells, including the RPE. We investigated the function https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Pitavastatin-calcium(Livalo).html and signaling of OA1 in RPE and transfected cell lines. Our results indicate that OA1 is a selective L-DOPA receptor, with no measurable second messenger activity from two closely related compounds, tyrosine and dopamine. Radiolabeled ligand binding

confirmed that OA1 exhibited a single, saturable binding site for L-DOPA. Dopamine competed with L-DOPA for the single OA1 binding site, suggesting it could function as an OA1 antagonist. OA1 response to L-DOPA was defined by several common measures of G-protein coupled receptor ( GPCR) activation, including influx of intracellular calcium and recruitment of beta-arrestin. Further, inhibition of tyrosinase, the enzyme that makes L-DOPA, resulted in decreased PEDF secretion by RPE. Further, stimulation of OA1 in RPE with L-DOPA resulted in increased PEDF secretion. Taken together, our results illustrate an autocrine loop between OA1 and tyrosinase linked through L-DOPA, and this loop includes the secretion of at least one very potent retinal neurotrophic factor.

(C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Objective-To measure plasma ACTH, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), and insulin concentrations

during various photoperiods between February and October in horses and ponies with and without pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID).\n\nDesign-Cohort study.\n\nAnimals-13 clinically normal (control) ponies, 14 clinically normal (control) horses, 7 ponies Screening Library with PPID, and 8 horses with PPID.\n\nProcedures-Blood samples were collected from February through October during 8 photoperiods: 1, February 13 through March 2; 2, April 4 through 6; 3, June 19 through 22; 4, August 6 through 7; 5, August 14 through 17; 6, September 4 through 6; 7, September

26 through 28; and 8, October 16 through 18. plasma ACTH, alpha-MSH, and insulin concentrations at each photoperiod were compared among groups.\n\nResults-Log ACTH concentration was increased during photoperiod 4 through 8, compared with photoperiod 1 through 3, in all groups. In photoperiod 3 through 7, log ACTH concentrations were higher in horses and ponies with PPID, compared with values for control horses and ponies. alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (log and raw value) concentration was higher in photoperiod 2 through 8, compared with photoperiod 1, in control horses and ponies. In horses and ponies with PPID, log alpha-MSH concentration was higher in photoperiod 3 through 8, and alpha-MSH concentration was higher in photoperiod 4 through 8, compared with photoperiod 1. In control horses and ponies, plasma insulin concentration was lower in photoperiod PFTα 3 than in photoperiod 1.\n\nConclusions

and Clinical Relevance-Plasma alpha-MSH and ACTH concentrations increased as daylight decreased from summer solstice (maximum daylight hours) to 12 hours of daylight. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2009;235:715-722)”
“Background: Clipping the winter coat in horses is done to improve heat dissipation during exercise and make grooming easier. It is often combined with blanketing to keep the horse warm. The aims of the present study were to investigate how clipping and the use of blankets affect thermoregulation during exercise and recovery in horses.\n\nMethods: One Gotland selleck pony, one New Forest pony, and one warm-blooded horse exercised one after the other on a 6450 m long track. The horses walked, trotted and cantered according to a predetermined scheme, which took about 50 minutes including three stops. The scheme was repeated on five consecutive days when horses were: 1) unclipped 2) unclipped + blanket during recovery, 3) left or right side clipped, 4) clipped, and 5) clipped + riding blanket + blanket during recovery. Heart rate (HR) was measured with telemetry, respiratory rate (RR) by counting flank contractions, skin temperatures by thermistor probes, and rectal temperature with a digital thermometer.

“
“The effects of aluminum (Al) exposure on reproductive functions of male rats were investigated. Forty male Wistar rats (4 weeks old) weighing 75-95 g were randomly divided into four groups and orally exposed to 0 (control group GC), 64.18 (low-dose group GL), 128.36 (middle-dose group GM), and 256.72 (high-dose group GH) mg/kg aluminum trichloride in drinking water for 120 days. The levels of testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined

by radioimmunoassay. The androgen receptor (AR) expressions in testes were detected Ro-3306 datasheet respectively by immunohistochemistry and time quantitative PCR. Results showed that the levels of T and LH in GM and GH were lower than those in GC (P < 0.05), but there were no significant changes in FSH level in all Al-treated groups (P > 0.05). Selleck MAPK inhibitor AR protein expressions in GM and GH were lower than those in GC (P < 0.05), and

there was a dose-response relationship between Al-exposure doses and AR protein expressions. The levels of AR mRNA expressions were lower in all Al-treated groups than those of GC (P < 0.05). The results indicate that Al can cause endocrinal disorders and interfere with AR expression, which suppresses development and functional maintenance of the testes.”
“Background and Aim: To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in a general population in Taiwan.\n\nMethods: A validated symptom questionnaire, the Chinese GERD questionnaire, was utilized to determine the prevalence of GERD within a community in Taiwan. A cut-off value for GERD diagnosis was a total score >= 12. Additionally,

demographic data, including sex, age, body mass index, and consumption of tobacco and alcohol, were recorded, and a logistic regression analysis was conducted to search the independent risk factors for the development of GERD in a general population.\n\nResults: In total, 1238 residents were recruited for this study. The monthly frequencies of heartburn, epigastric acidic discomfort, and acid regurgitation were 4.4%, 3.7%, and 2.9%, respectively. learn more The GERD prevalence was 25% in the community. The multivariate analysis showed that female sex and age of 40-49 years and 50-59 years were independent risk factors related to the development of GERD, with odd ratios of 1.71, 3.65, and 2.41, respectively (95% confidence intervals: 1.26-2.34, 1.62-8.21, and 1.11-2.54, respectively).\n\nConclusions: GERD has become a common disorder in the general population in Taiwan. Female sex and age of 40-49 years and 50-59 years are risk factors for the development of GERD within a community.”
“McArdle disease (MD) is a metabolic myopathy due to myophosphorylase deficiency.

After 7.3 years of follow-up, excluding the first 2.3 years due to incomplete coverage of the pathology

registry and to avoid preclinical disease, adjusted hazard ratios (including adjustment for total meat) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, NSC 19893 using 4026 subcohort members (aged 55-69 years at baseline), 435 colon and 140 rectal cancer patients. When comparing the highest with the lowest tertile of intake, heme iron intake was associated with an increased risk of CRC harboring activating mutations in KRAS (hazard ratio = 1.71, 95% confidence interval: 1.15-2.57; P for trend = 0.03) and CRC without truncating mutations in APC (hazard ratio = 1.79, 95% confidence interval: 1.23-2.60; P for trend = 0.003). We observed a positive association between heme iron intake and the risk of CRC with activating G bigger than A mutations in KRAS (P for trend = 0.01) and overall G bigger than A mutations in APC (P for trend = 0.005). No associations were found with CRC harboring

G bigger than T mutations in KRAS/APC. Heme iron intake was positively associated with the risk of P53 overexpressed tumors but not with tumors without P53 overexpression (Pheterogeneity = 0.12). Heme iron intake was associated with an increased risk of colorectal tumors harboring G bigger than A transitions in KRAS and APC and overexpression of P53. These novel findings suggest that alkylating BMS-777607 chemical structure rather than

oxidative DNA-damaging mechanisms are involved in heme-induced colorectal carcinogenesis.”
“Extensive evidence indicates that women selleck chemicals llc outperform men in episodic memory tasks. Furthermore, women are known to evaluate emotional stimuli as more arousing than men. Because emotional arousal typically increases episodic memory formation, the females’ memory advantage might be more pronounced for emotionally arousing information than for neutral information. Here, we report behavioral data from 3398 subjects, who performed picture rating and memory tasks, and corresponding fMRI data from up to 696 subjects. We were interested in the interaction between sex and valence category on emotional appraisal, memory performances, and fMRI activity. The behavioral results showed that females evaluate in particular negative (p smaller than 10(-16)) and positive (p = 2 x 10(-4)), but not neutral pictures, as emotionally more arousing (p(interaction) smaller than 10(-16)) than males. However, in the free recall females outperformed males not only in positive (p smaller than 10(-16)) and negative (p smaller than 5 x 10(-5)), but also in neutral picture recall (p smaller than 3.4 x 10(-8)), with a particular advantage for positive pictures (p(interaction) smaller than 4.4 x 10(-10)). Importantly, females’ memory advantage during free recall was absent in a recognition setting.

“
“The concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), as well as those of 18 ACY-738 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), including 12-dioxin like (DL)-PCBs, were measured in foodstuffs randomly acquired in Catalonia (Spain) in November-December 2008. A total of 65 composite samples, belonging to various food groups were analyzed by HRGC/HRMS. The dietary intakes of PCDD/Fs and PCBs were subsequently estimated for four age groups of the population of Catalonia: children, teenagers, adults, and seniors, which were in turn divided according to

sex. The highest dietary exposure to PCDD/Fs corresponded to fish and seafood (28.0%), dairy products (15.4%), and oils and fats (10.6%), while that of PCBs corresponded to fish and seafood find more (58.6%), and dairy products (8.9%). In contrast, the lowest contributions of PCDD/Fs and PCBs corresponded to vegetables, fruits and pulses. Concerning the sum of PCDD/Fs plus DL-PCBs, the current total intake expressed

in pg WHO-TEQ/kg per day (0.60) showed a notable decreasing trend with respect to those found in previous surveys performed also in Catalonia in 2000 (3.51) and 2006 (1.12 pg/kg per day). The current dietary intake of PCDDs plus DL-PCBs is similar or lower than that recently reported in studies performed in a number of regions and countries. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Social monogamy is common among birds, while genetic monogamy is supposed to be rare. I have investigated the genetic mating system of the Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus in which, as in seabirds and most other long-lived and socially monogamous birds, extra-pair paternity (EPP) is typically rather infrequent. The parentage of 79 chicks from 30 broods was determined based on the analysis of six microsatellite markers. In this study population, evidence of allelic inconsistencies between putative parents and chicks as a result of both EPP and intraspecific brood parasitism (ISBP) was found in 43% of nests . Extra-pair paternity was detected

in 33% (10/30) of broods, and 20% (16/79) of all nestlings were sired by extra-pair males. In addition, 9% (7/79) of chicks out of five nests (17%) were not selleck inhibitor the offspring of either member of the pair, indicating ISBP. These findings reveal a moderate rate of ISBP and a high rate of EPP in the Black-headed Gull compared with other related species and shows that the Black-headed Gulls successfully participate in extra-pair copulations.”
“The across-plane electrical conductivity of the proton-conducting SrZr0.95Y0.05O3 -aEuro parts per thousand delta thin films fabricated by chemical solution deposition on single-crystalline ZrO2 doped by 10 mol% of Y2O3 (YSZ) substrates was investigated using impedance spectroscopy. The average grain size of the films was found to increase considerably with thermal treatment.

These sialyloligo-macroligand derived glycoarray and SPR-based glyco-biosensor are closely to mimic 3D nature presentation of sialyloligosaccharides and will provide important high-throughput tools for virus diagnosis and potential antiviral drug candidates screening applications.”
“TRPC1 is a major component of store-operated

calcium entry in many cell types. In our previous studies, three types of endogenous store-operated calcium channels have been described in HEK293 cells, but it remained unknown which of these channels are composed MEK inhibitor of TRPC1 proteins. Here, this issue has been addressed by performing single-channel analysis in HEK293 cells transfected with anti-TRPC1 siRNA (siTPRC1) or a TPRC1-encoding plasmid. The results show that thapsigargin-or agonist-induced calcium influx is significantly attenuated in siTRPC1-transfected HEK293 cells. TRPC1 knockdown by siRNA results in the disappearance of store-operated I-max channels, while the properties of I-min and I-NS channels are unaffected. In HEK293 cells with

overexpressed TRPC1 protein, the unitary current-voltage relationship of exogenous TRPC1 channels is almost linear, with a slope conductance of about 17 pS. The extrapolated reversal potential of expressed TRPC1 channels is +30 mV. Therefore, the main electrophysiological and regulatory properties of expressed TRPC1 and native I-max channels are identical. Moreover, GSK461364 molecular weight TRPC1 overexpression in HEK293 cells results in an increased number of store-operated I-max channels. All these data allow us to conclude that TRPC1 protein forms native store-operated I-max Selleck JNK inhibitor channels but is not an essential subunit for other store-operated channel types in HEK293 cells. (C) 2012 Elsevier Masson

SAS. All rights reserved.”
“We have studied the optical recombination channels of TbCl3 using x-ray excited optical luminescence at the N-4,N-5 absorption edge of Tb (giant resonance) in both the energy and time domain. The luminescence exhibits a relatively fast D-5(3), and a slow D-5(4) decay channel in the blue and green, respectively. The rather short lifetime of the D-5(3) state indicates that the decay is mainly driven by Tb-Tb ion interaction via non-radiative energy transfer (cross-relaxation). At the giant resonance the X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) recorded using partial photoluminescence yield is inverted. In the pre-edge region the contrast of the spectral feature is significantly better in optical XANES than in total electron yield. Changes in the intensity of D-5(3)-F-7(5) (544 nm) and D-5(4)-F-7(6) (382 nm) optical transitions as the excitation energy is tuned across the giant resonance are also noted.

“
“Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors were the first antidepressant drugs to be prescribed and are still used today with great success, especially in patients resistant to other antidepressants. In this study, we evaluated the MAO inhibitory properties and the potential

antidepressant action of 2-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole (2-DMPI) in mice. We found that 2-DMPI inhibited both MAO isoforms (K-i values were 1.53 (1.3-1.8) mu M and 46.67 (31.8-68.4) mu M for MAO-A and MAO-B, respectively) with 30-fold higher selectivity toward MAO-A. In relation to the nature of MAO-A inhibition, 2-DMPI showed find more to be a mixed and reversible inhibitor. The treatment with 2-DMPI (100-1000 mu mol/kg, s.c.) caused a significant decrease in immobility

time in the tail suspension test (TST) without affecting locomotor activity, motor coordination or anxiety-related activities. Conversely, moclobemide (1000 mu mol/kg, s.c.) caused a significant increase in immobility time in the TST, which appeared to be mediated by a nonspecific effect on motor coordination function. 2-DMPI (300 mu mol/kg, s.c.) decreased serotonin turnover in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum, whereas Selleckchem 5-Fluoracil dopamine turnover was diminished only in the striatum, and norepinephrine turnover was not changed. The antidepressant-like effect of 2-DMPI was inhibited by the pretreatment of mice with methysergide (2 mg/kg, s.c., a non-selective serotonin receptor antagonist), WAY100635 (0.1 mg/kg, s.c., a selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist) or haloperidol (0.05 mg/kg, i.p., a non-selective dopamine receptor antagonist). These results suggest that 2-DMPI is a prototype reversible and preferential MAO-A inhibitor with potential antidepressant activity, due to its modulatory effect on serotonergic and dopaminergic systems. (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“The operational and analytical performance of two automated triplex LB-100 chemical structure hepatitis

B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) nucleic acid test (NAT) systems were compared in four screening laboratories of the French Blood Service.\n\nTwo laboratories evaluated the Procleix Tigris 4 system (Chiron/Gen-Probe) in individual donation (ID) format and two sites used the cobas s 201 system (Roche Molecular Systems) on minipools (MPs) of six donations. The analytical sensitivity, the specificity, and operational performance were compared.\n\nThe ID to MP-NAT relative sensitivity factors in standard dilution panels of different genotypes varied between 8.7 and 21.9 for HCV RNA, 6.7 and 14.8 for HIV RNA, and 0.71 and 11.6 for HBV DNA. Tigris was 800-fold more sensitive than cobas s 201 (1:6) for a HIV group O sample, but did not detect the HIV-2 sample picked up by cobas s 201 with equal sensitivity as the HIV-1 group M samples. The specificity of both NAT systems after initial screening of 10,520 donations with Tigris and 1444 test pools on s 201 was 99.