Vitellogenin, steroid plasma levels and spawning performance of cultured female Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis)

The Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) is a high value market flatfish, which aquaculture is compromised by severe reproductive problems; these are mostly found in soles hatched and raised in captivity (F1 generation). To gain knowledge on the reproductive dysfunctions observed in cultured (F1) Senegalese sole, this work aimed at developing a specific vitellogenin (VTG) ELISA, for the measurement of plasma VTG levels in this species. Profiles of VTG were correlated with those of sexual steroids and spawning performance of an F1 broodstock, during three consecutive years. The Senegalese sole VTG (ssVTG) was purified by precipitation with MgCl(2)-EDTA and anion-exchange chromatography and showed a molecular mass of 172 kDa, by SDS-PAGE. Specific antibodies were obtained and used to develop a competitive ELISA, which had a sensitivity of 3.6 ng ml(-1), and inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variation of 9.5% (n=29) and 6.7% (n=12), respectively. Annual profiles of plasma VTG showed a major peak at pre-spawning, and a second minor rise around autumn, which mirrored plasma profiles of both estradiol (E(2)) and testosterone (T) levels. Spontaneous spawning occurred every year in the spring season, but no fertilized eggs were obtained. In conclusion, this study described, for the first time, the purification and development of a sensitive and specific ELISA for Senegalese sole VTG. The endocrine and spawning data suggested that F1 female broodstock showed normal VTG and steroid releasing profiles in captivity with occurrence of spontaneous spawning, but no fertilization of the eggs was recorded.     

Diverse taxa of cyanobacteria produce beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine, a neurotoxic amino acid

Cyanobacteria can generate molecules hazardous to human health, but production of the known cyanotoxins is taxonomically sporadic. For example, members of a few genera produce hepatotoxic microcystins, whereas production of hepatotoxic nodularins appears to be limited to a single genus. Production of known neurotoxins has also been considered phylogenetically unpredictable. We report here that a single neurotoxin, beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine, may be produced by all known groups of cyanobacteria, including cyanobacterial symbionts and free-living cyanobacteria. The ubiquity of cyanobacteria in terrestrial, as well as freshwater, brackish, and marine environments, suggests a potential for wide-spread human exposure.     

Larger pain extent is associated with greater pain intensity and disability but not with general health status or psychosocial features in patients with cervical radiculopathy

Pain as a result of cervical radiculopathy (CR) can be widespread, nondermatomal and individually specific, but the association between pain extent and other clinical features has never been explored. The objective of this study is to investigate whether pain extent relates to clinical variables including pain intensity in addition to health indicators including disability, general health, depression, somatic anxiety, coping strategies or self-efficacy.An observational cohort study was conducted. Participants were recruited from 4 hospital spinal centres in Sweden. Pain extent was quantified from the pain drawings of 190 individuals with cervical disc disease, verified with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compatible with clinical findings (examined by a neurosurgeon), that show cervical nerve root compression. Pain extent was evaluated in relation to neck pain, arm pain, and headache intensity. Multiple linear regression analysis were then used to verify whether pain extent was associated with other health indicators including disability, health-related quality of life, depression, somatic anxiety, coping strategies and self-efficacy.Pain extent was directly related to neck, arm and headache pain intensity (all P < .01). Multiple linear regression revealed that pain extent was significantly associated only to the level of perceived disability (P < .01).Increased pain extent in people with CR is associated with higher headache, neck and arm pain intensity, and disability but not measures of general health, depression, somatic anxiety, coping strategies or self-efficacy.     

Content and psychometric evaluations of questionnaires for assessing physical function in people with neck disorders: a systematic review of the literature

Purpose: The purpose was to investigate how physical function is assessed in people with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in the neck. Specifically, we aimed to determine: (1) Which questionnaires are used to assess physical function in people with MSD in the neck? (2) What do those questionnaires measure? (3) What are the measurement properties of the questionnaires?

Materials and methods: A systematic review was performed to identify questionnaires and psychometric evaluations. The content of the questionnaires was categorized according to the International Classification of Function, Disability and Health, and the psychometric properties were quality-rated using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments checklist.

Results: Ten questionnaires and 32 articles evaluating measurement properties were analyzed. Most questionnaires covered only the components body functions and activity and participation, more often activity participation than body function. Internal consistency was adequate in most questionnaires, whereas responsiveness was generally low. Neck Disability Index was most evaluated, but the evaluations of all questionnaires tended to cover most properties in the checklist.

Conclusions: The questionnaires differed substantially in items and extent to which their psychometric properties had been evaluated. Focus of measurement was on activities in daily life rather than physical function as such.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• To provide early diagnostics and effective treatment for patients with neck disorders, valid and reliable instruments that measure relevant aspects of the disorders are needed.

• This paper presents an overview of content and quality of questionnaires used to assess physical function in neck disorders, which may facilitate informed decisions about which measurement instruments to use when evaluating the course of neck disorders.

• Most of the questionnaires need more testing to judge the quality, however the NDI was the most frequently tested questionnaire.

• The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments checklist is a useful tool in relation to psychometric testing of questionnaires, but clear definitions of interpretation of the quality criteria in each study would enhance comparability of results.

     

P amylase is always greater than S in spot urine of normal subjects. Diagnostic implications.

Single random samples of urine were collected from 50 control subjects; 27 patients with chronic pancreatitis; 19 with acute pancreatitis; 6 with acute on chronic pancreatitis; five in the recovery phase of acute attack; four patients with pseudocysts. Salivary (S) and pancreatic (P) amylase values were measured by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. The P amylase values always exceeded those of S amylase in the control specimens. In acute pancreatitis, both the lower and upper levels of total and P amylase were considerably higher than in the controls, and these high values tended to return to normal during the recovery phase of acute pancreatitis. The S amylase values were often very low or undetectable during the acute phase. Values for P amylase exceeded control values in patients with pseudocysts even in the presence of chronic pancreatitis. In chronic calcific pancreatitis, S amylase was higher than P amylase. We conclude that P amylase is always greater than S amylase in normal urine specimens, and a change in this pattern may be helpful in diagnosing various forms of pancreatitis.     

Short-term prognosis in critically ill patients with liver cirrhosis: an evaluation of a new scoring system

OBJECTIVE: The mortality of patients with liver cirrhosis admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) has been found to be high. This study was performed to assess the physiological and laboratory parameters which are able to identify on ICU admission the cirrhotic patients who are most likely to die. DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. METHODS: Two groups of patients were analysed. Group A consisted of 196 consecutive cirrhotic patients admitted to our medical ICU for various reasons. For the detection of independent outcome predictors, we used a multiple logistic regression model. Based on these variables, the 'intensive care cirrhosis outcome (ICCO) score' was calculated. The ability to discriminate between survivors and non-survivors was determined by receiver operating characteristic curves, and the area under the curve was calculated. Group B consisted of 70 consecutive cirrhotic patients for prospective validation of the ICCO score. RESULTS: Applying multiple logistic regression analysis, bilirubin, cholesterol, creatinine clearance and lactate were found to be independently associated with the hospital mortality. The ICCO score was 0.3707 + (0.0773 x bilirubin (mg/dl)) - (0.00849 x cholesterol (mg/dl)) -(0.0155 x creatinine clearance (ml/min)) + (0.1351 x lactate (mmol/l)), giving an area under a receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.9. Increasing score values were associated with an increase in mortality. All patients with an ICCO score > +2.6 died. CONCLUSIONS: Application of the ICCO score is rapid and available at the patient's bedside, and its application is simple and reproducible. In cirrhotic patients, the ICCO score has a high ability to discriminate between survivors and non-survivors. The ICCO score may facilitate estimation on ICU admission of the prognosis of critically ill cirrhotic patients.