Suboptimal performance of rotavirus testing in a vaccinated community population should prompt laboratories to review their rotavirus testing algorithms in response to changes in disease prevalence

Rotavirus vaccine has reduced disease prevalence in many countries. Consequently, we aimed to assess the reliability of a rotavirus immunoassay in the community population of Auckland and Northland, New Zealand. Between 22 October 2015 and 31 December 2016, 2873 fecal samples were tested by enzyme immunoassay (EIA, Rotascreen II, Microgen, UK) from 2748 patients (median age 8?years, range 0–101?years). Eighty-nine (3.1%) samples were reactive; 86 samples were tested by a second method. Rotavirus was confirmed in 49/86 (57%). Positive rotavirus EIAs were more likely to be confirmed in samples from cases ≥1?year of age (positive predictive value [PPV] 61%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 50–72%, P?=?0.049) and in spring/summer (PPV 67%, 95% CI 55–78%, P?=?0.003). Reactive rotavirus tests required confirmatory testing regardless of demographic, vaccine, or seasonal factors; a review of rotavirus testing algorithms may be necessary in other vaccinated community populations.     

Neural plasticity and adult neurogenesis: the deep biology perspective

The recognition that neurogenesis does not stop with adolescence has spun off research towards the reduction of brain disorders by enhancing brain regeneration. Adult neurogenesis is one of the tougher problems of developmental biology as it requires the generation of complex intracellular and pericellular anatomies, amidst the danger of neuroinflammation. We here review how a multitude of regulatory pathways optimized for early neurogenesis has to be revamped into a new choreography of time dependencies. Distinct pathways need to be regulated, ranging from neural growth factor induced differentiation to mitochondrial bioenergetics, reactive oxygen metabolism, and apoptosis. Requiring much Gibbs energy consumption, brain depends on aerobic energy metabolism, hence on mitochondrial activity. Mitochondrial fission and fusion, movement and perhaps even mitoptosis, thereby come into play. All these network processes are interlinked and involve a plethora of molecules. We recommend a deep thinking approach to adult neurobiology.     

The Presence of a Psychiatric Condition is Associated With Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Matched Case-Controlled Study

Background

We sought to examine the association between having a psychiatric condition and undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

Detection of recombinant and endogenous mouse melatonin receptors by monoclonal antibodies targeting the C‐terminal domain

Melatonin receptors play important roles in the regulation of circadian and seasonal rhythms, sleep, retinal functions, the immune system, depression, and type 2 diabetes development. Melatonin receptors are approved drug targets for insomnia, non‐24‐hour sleep‐wake disorders, and major depressive disorders. In mammals, two melatonin receptors (MTRs) exist, MT₁ and MT₂, belonging to the G protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. Similar to most other GPCRs, reliable antibodies recognizing melatonin receptors proved to be difficult to obtain. Here, we describe the development of the first monoclonal antibodies (mABs) for mouse MT₁ and MT₂. Purified antibodies were extensively characterized for specific reactivity with mouse, rat, and human MT₁ and MT₂ by Western blot, immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and proximity ligation assay. Several mABs were specific for either mouse MT₁ or MT₂. None of the mABs cross‐reacted with rat MTRs, and some were able to react with human MTRs. The specificity of the selected mABs was validated by immunofluorescence microscopy in three established locations (retina, suprachiasmatic nuclei, pituitary gland) for MTR expression in mice using MTR‐KO mice as control. MT₂ expression was not detected in mouse insulinoma MIN6 cells or pancreatic beta‐cells. Collectively, we report the first monoclonal antibodies recognizing recombinant and native mouse melatonin receptors that will be valuable tools for future studies.     

Alterations in Carotid Parameters in ApoE–/– Mice Treated with a High-Fat Diet: A Micro-ultrasound Analysis

Information on the common carotid artery and cerebral microcirculation can be obtained by micro-ultrasound (µUS). The aim of the study described here was to investigate high-fat diet-induced alterations in vascular parameters in ApoE–/– mice. Twenty-two ApoE–/– male mice were examined by µUS and divided into the standard diet (ApoE–/–_SD) and high-fat diet (ApoE–/–_HF) groups. The µUS examination was repeated after 4 mo (T₁). Carotid stiffness, reflection magnitude and reflection index were measured; the amplitudes of the first (W₁) and second (W₂) local maxima, the local minimum (W_b) and the reflection index (RI_WIA?=?W_b/W₁) were assessed with wave intensity analysis. At T₁, ApoE–/–_HF mice had increased carotid stiffness (1.48 [0.36] vs. 1.88 [0.51]) and reflection magnitude (0.89 [0.07] vs. 0.94 [0.07]) values. Longitudinal comparisons highlighted increases in carotid stiffness for ApoE–/–_HF mice (from 1.37 [0.25] to 1.88 [0.51] m/s) but not for ApoE–/–_SD mice (from 1.40 [0.62] to 1.48 [0.36] m/s). ApoE–/–_HF mice exhibited carotid artery stiffening and increased wave reflections.