Identification of novel double-stranded RNA mycoviruses of Fusarium virguliforme and evidence of their effects on virulence

Virulence and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) profiles of 44 isolates of Fusarium virguliforme were compared. When grouped according to dsRNA profiles, isolates with large dsRNAs were significantly (P≤0.05) less virulent than isolates without dsRNAs. High-throughput sequence analysis of total RNA prepared from cultures with large dsRNAs identified two novel RNA viruses with genome sequences of approximately 9.3 kbp, which were named Fusarium virguliforme dsRNA mycovirus 1 and Fusarium virguliforme dsRNA mycovirus 2. The new viruses were most closely related to a group of unclassified viruses that included viruses of F. graminearum and Phlebiopsis gigantea and are related to members of the family Totiviridae.     

Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist and Teachers' Report Form in a normative sample of Greek children 6–12 years old

 Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Teachers' Report Form (TRF) were administered to 6–12 year old school children comprising a large random community sample (n = 1200) drawn from the whole of Greece. These are the first data on the TRF in Greece and the first nation-wide data on the CBCL. Appropriate cutoff points for the behavioral problems and competence scales of both questionnaires were obtained for boys and girls. These were considerably higher than USA cutoffs for the CBCL but not for the TRF. Analysis of scores in relation to degree of urbanization showed that it was not necessary to define different cutoffs in different strata. Parents' and teachers' ratings of the same child were most highly correlated for Externalizing and Aggressive behavior for boys and for Attention problems for both sexes. Accepted: 9 December 1998     

What works best for worksite cholesterol education? Answers from targeted focus groups.

Focus group discussions are an effective way to determine the needs and interests of a target population. In August 1989, eight focus group discussions were conducted with municipal employees in Phoenix, Ariz, to determine the needs and interests of potential participants in a worksite cholesterol education program. Employees were selected for the focus groups on the basis of an initial screening that determined their motivation to change customary eating habits. Individuals categorized as "somewhat motivated" were invited to participate in the focus groups because researchers thought they would best represent the motivation level of the majority of potential participants in the cholesterol education program. The focus group participants indicated that they preferred educational formats and approaches that appealed to diverse learning styles and recognized individual differences. Several of the program features identified by the focus groups are consistent with principles of adult education, especially active participation in the learning activity. The focus group participants wanted information presented in a simple, easy-to-understand manner, and they asked for behavioral directives rather than background information or medical jargon. Release time from work and employer commitment to the program were viewed as important to the success of the program. We conclude that employees respond best to worksite wellness programs that are simple, practical, and relevant and that allow them to participate actively in the learning activity during work time.     

Mindfulness and fear of hypoglycaemia in parents of children with Type 1 diabetes: results from Diabetes MILES Youth – The Netherlands

Aims

To identify the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of fear of hypoglycaemia among parents of children (aged 4–18 years) with Type 1 diabetes and to examine the relationships between parental fear of hypoglycaemia, mindfulness and mindful parenting.

Methods

Sociodemographic, self‐reported clinical and psychological data were extracted from the cross‐sectional Diabetes MILES Youth – The Netherlands dataset. Questionnaires included the Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey – Parent Worry (parental fear of hypoglycaemia), the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory – Short version (mindfulness) and the Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting Scale (mindful parenting).

Results

A total of 421 parents (359 mothers) participated. Hierarchical linear regression analyses showed that greater parental fear of hypoglycaemia was related to younger parental age, low educational level, non‐Dutch nationality, more frequent blood glucose monitoring, and less general mindfulness. Adding mindful parenting to the model negated the previous contribution of general mindfulness. In this model, lower mindful parenting was related to greater parental fear of hypoglycaemia. In particular, parents with an increased ability to be less judgemental of themselves as parents and less reactive to emotions within parenting interactions reported less fear of hypoglycaemia. In total, 21% of the variance in parental fear of hypoglycaemia was explained.

Conclusion

Parental fear of hypoglycaemia was associated largely with parental characteristics, including non‐modifiable sociodemographics (i.e. age, education, nationality) and modifiable psychological factors (i.e. mindful parenting). These findings suggest that it is important to further explore mindfulness‐based interventions for parents to reduce fear of hypoglycaemia next to interventions to reduce hypoglycaemia.     

Spondyloarthropathy presenting at a young age: case report and review

The diagnosis of juvenile spondyloarthritis (JSA) is rarely entertained in young children who present with back and leg pain. We present a case of a 6-year-old male who presented with a 3-year history of severe back and leg pain and a positive Gower’s sign, and was given a presumed diagnosis of muscular dystrophy. Presenting serologic evaluation included a mildly elevated sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein (CRP). Computed tomography of the pelvis demonstrated large erosions affecting both sacro-iliac joints. Despite the unusually young age of this patient, ankylosing spondylitis seemed the most plausible diagnosis. Following rheumatological evaluation and treatment for JSA, he showed significant clinical improvement. His disease, however, has not entirely remitted with signs of enthesitis at the Achilles tendon and knees. We present this case to illustrate that JSA could account for symptoms at an early age and not considering it could lead to multiple medical visits and diagnoses. To our knowledge, based on a search of the World literature, this would appear to be the youngest case of JSA reported with demonstrable severe sacroiliitis. Presented at the 31st Annual members Meeting of the International Skeletal Society in Malta, September 2004.     

Evaluation of the efficacy of minocycline therapy for staphylococcal soft-tissue infection

Ten patients with soft-tissue infections due to Staphylococcus aureus were treated with minocycline, a semisynthetic tetracycline with potent in vitro antistaphylococcal effects. Serum concentrations averaged three to five times the concentration of minocycline required to inhibit growth of S. aureus in vitro. Clearing of the infecting organism was slow (less than 50% of lesions were sterile on day 10 of therapy), but clinical improvement was noted in 8 of 10 patients.     

Age-related changes of mitochondrial structure and function in Caenorhabditis elegans

A number of observations have been made to examine the role that mitochrondrial energetics and superoxide anion production play in the aging of wild-type Caenorhabditis elegans. Ultrastructural analyses reveal the presence of swollen mitochondria, presumably produced by fusion events. Two key mitochondrial functions - the activity of two electron transport chain complexes and oxygen consumption - decreased as animals aged. Carbonylated proteins, one byproduct of oxidative stress, accumulated in mitochondria much more than in the cytoplasm. This is consistent with the notion that mitochondria are the primary source of endogenous reactive oxygen species. However, the level of mitochondrially generated superoxide anion did not change significantly during aging, suggesting that the accumulation of oxidative damage is not due to excessive production of superoxide anion in geriatric animals. In concert, these data support the notion that the mitochondrial function is an important aging determinant in wild-type C. elegans.     

Quantifying positive communication: Doctor’s language and patient anxiety in primary care consultations

Objective

Positive communication is advocated for physicians during consultations with patients presenting medically unexplained symptoms (MUS), but studies generally focus on what is said rather than how it is said. This study quantified language use differences of general practitioners (GPs), and assessed their relation to patient anxiety.