Molecular characterization of Capripox viruses obtained from field outbreaks in Nigeria between 2000 and 2016

Capripox virus infections are endemic diseases of livestock in Nigeria, but there are limited data on molecular characterization of circulating viruses. In this study, we investigated field outbreaks of Capripox virus infections in Nigeria via partial sequencing of viruses obtained from field samples. Eleven selected samples, collected from 2000–2016 from cattle (9), sheep (1) and goat (1) in three states in Nigeria and Capripox virus genome positive by PCR and real‐time qPCR, were characterized using our newly developed partial sequencing protocol. This method for genetic characterization of Capripox virus strains allows a first, short molecular classification of strains responsible for the investigated field outbreaks in the country. Phylogenetically, the eight LSDV samples obtained from 2010 to 2016 are closely related to already published strains occurring in Greece and Serbia in the years 2015 and 2016, respectively, whereas the isolate from 2000 shows high similarity to the South African NI‐2490 strain. These data indicate that there was a change of LSDV strains circulating in Nigeria between the years 2000 and 2010. The samples isolated from a goat and a sheep in different years seem to be related to already known GTPV strains, but clearly differ from all current published GTPV strains. Interestingly, both newly detected GTPV strains show up to 100% similarity compared to each other and led to clinical disease in sheep and goats. It is long known that some strains of GTPV and SPPV are able to infect both sheep and goats, but in most cases lead to more severe disease in only one of these species. Further genetic characterization of these isolates could provide more insight into pathogenesis and virulence factors of Capripox viruses, especially GTPV and SPPV.     

Blood glucose and serum insulin responses to breakfast including guar gum and cooked or uncooked milk in Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients

Summary The post-prandial blood glucose and serum insulin responses to test meals, each including 300 ml fat-free milk taken separately with the meal or premixed before cooking into the meal consisting of oatmeal porridge, were studied in 10 diet-treated Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic subjects. The modifying effect of guar gum on the responses was also studied by supplementing both types of test meals with 5 g granulated guar gum taken at the beginning of the meal. The blood glucose response was higher after the meal which contained cooked milk than after the respective meal with milk taken separately. The guar gum supplementation attenuated the blood glucose response after the meals, but the effect was more pronounced after the meal containing cooked milk. Post-prandial serum insulin responses were similar after all test meals. The results suggest that cooking may facilitate the absorption of lactose from milk-containing foods, and that supplementation with guar gum may counteract this response.     

Otoscopic diagnosis of middle ear effusion in acute and non-acute otitis media. I. The value of different otoscopic findings

To determine the value of different pneumotoscopic findings in diagnosing the middle ear effusion (MEE) of acute (AOM) and non-acute otitis media, 11,804 ear-related visits of 2,911 unselected children at ages 0.5-2.5 years were analysed. About half of these were examined by an otolaryngologist in one, and half by a pediatrician in another, urban area. Myringotomy was always performed when MEE was suspected, and it confirmed the presence of MEE in 85% (otolaryngologist) and 82% (pediatrician) of altogether 5,462 acute and in 69% (both doctors) of 1,092 non-acute cases suspected. Redness of the tympanic membrane (TM) was found in only 18% and 27% of the visits with AOM, and it predicted MEE with only 60% and 51% probability, if seen in acute visits. Cloudiness of the TM was noticed in 81% and 67% of the visits with AOM; its specificity and the other calculated variables were good in regard to the diagnosing of MEE, especially in acute cases in both groups. Distinctly impaired mobility of the TM was of about the same diagnostic value, but its position reliably indicated MEE only when bulging. In AOM the colour or mobility of the TM was normal very rarely, but the position was normal in a third of the cases. Thus, although there were differences in the incidences of different otoscopic findings in the two study groups, the diagnostic value of certain pneumatic otoscopic findings, especially cloudiness and distinct hypomobility of the TM, seemed to be good in both groups.     

Circulating lipid and lipoprotein concentrations during danazol and high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy of endometriosis

In a study on endometriosis, ten patients were treated with danazol (200 mg three times a day) and ten patients with high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) (100 mg a day) for 6 months. The circulating high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentration decreased significantly in the danazol (53%) and in the MPA groups (26%); the change in the danazol group was significantly higher than that in the MPA group. Danazol also significantly increased the low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels (37%), whereas MPA had no significant effect. Danazol (29%) and MPA (12%) decreased the apolipoprotein A-1 levels significantly. The decrease caused by danazol was significantly greater. Danazol also significantly decreased the apolipoprotein A-2 levels (12%) and significantly increased the apolipoprotein B levels (17%), whereas MPA had no significant effects on them. Three months after the end of medication, all values were at the pretreatment levels. The circulating cholesterol, triglyceride, and very low-density lipoprotein concentrations remained unchanged during both treatments. Danazol and high-dose MPA induced a similar significant regression of peritoneal endometriotic implants in relation to placebo. Our present results, showing that danazol, to a greater extent than high-dose MPA, is associated with changes in lipoprotein metabolism that expose the individual to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, suggest that high-dose MPA is preferable to danazol in the long-term treatment of endometriosis.     

Immunity to Chlamydia pneumoniae induced by vaccination with DNA vectors expressing a cytoplasmic protein (Hsp60) or outer membrane proteins (MOMP and Omp2)

Immune responses induced by intramuscular DNA immunization with Chlamydia pneumoniae genes coding for the major outer membrane protein (MOMP), cysteine-rich outer membrane protein 2 (Omp2) or the heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) were studied. BALB/c mice were vaccinated intramuscularly three times at 3-week intervals and challenged intranasally 2 weeks after the last injection. Immunization with pmomp or phsp60 showed 1.2-1.5 log reduction in the mean lung bacterial counts after the challenge. Specific antibodies were detected only in sera of the mice immunized with pomp2 and phsp60. Although immunization with pomp2 resulted in a strong serum antibody response against Omp2 protein, it failed to protect the mice. Immunization with any of the three vaccines did not reduce the severity of histologically assessed pneumonia, but resulted in significantly higher lymphoid reaction in the lung indicating immunological memory.     

Chromosomal abnormalities and microsatellite instability in sporadic endometrial cancer

Defective DNA mismatch repair and nonfunctional mechanisms controlling the proper progression of the cell cycle have been proposed as being responsible for the genomic instability and accumulation of karyotypic alterations in endometrial cancer (EC). To assess whether numerical chromosomal anomalies (aneuploidy) and microsatellite instability (MSI) might be representative of distinctive tumour behaviour, paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 86 patients with sporadic EC were evaluated by both fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and microsatellite analysis, using free nuclei and genomic DNAs (respectively). Approximately one-third of the tumours analysed (24/74; 32%) exhibited MSI, whereas 38/86 (44%) of the EC samples displayed aneuploidy. The majority of the unstable cases (15/24; 63%) were from advanced-stage patients. Conversely, 23 (61%) out of the 38 tumours with aneuploidy were from early-stage patients. No apparent correlation was found between MSI and aneuploidy, whereas the immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis revealed that inactivation of the MLH1 mismatch repair gene may be involved in the majority of the MSI+ sporadic ECs. No genetic or cytogenetic alteration analysed here seems to add any significant predictive value to the stage of disease.     

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) 4G/5G polymorphism, coronary thrombosis, and myocardial infarction in middle-aged Finnish men who died suddenly

High plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) plasma levels increase future risk of myocardial infarction (MI). The 4G allele of the 4G/5G polymorphism of the PAI-1 gene has been associated with increased plasma levels of PAI-1. The association of the PAI-1 polymorphism with coronary narrowings, coronary thrombosis and myocardial infarction (MI) was studied in a prospective autopsy series of 300 middle-aged Caucasian Finnish men (33 to 69 yrs) suffering sudden out-of-hospital death (Helsinki Sudden Death Study). The 4G allele was found in 76.8% of men with sudden cardiac death (SCD) compared to 67.5% in men who died accidentally and 63.2% in men who died of other diseases (p = 0.08 and p = 0.055, respectively). Men possessing the 4G allele had more often acute MI (OR 3.5; p <0.05) and coronary thrombosis (OR 5.5. p = 0.01) compared to 5G homozygotes. 5G homozygotes, comprising one third of the men in our study, seem to be at a decreased risk of thrombosis, whereas carriers of the common 4G allele have an increased risk of thrombosis, AMI and possibly SCD compared to 5G homozygotes.     

Cerebral cast angiography as an aid to medicolegal autopsies in cases of death after adult cardiac surgery

Due to an increase in age of the patient population in cardiac surgery, cerebral complications are increasing in frequency, also as a cause of death. In order to reveal cerebral pathology associated with a fatal outcome after cardiac surgery, we re-evaluated the cast angiographs and medico-legal autopsy documents of 144 adult cardiac surgery subjects over a 7-year period. Special attention was paid to the ability of post-mortem cast angiography to aid in diagnosing cerebral pathology. The autopsy detected new ischemic cerebral lesions in 29 (20%) cases, of which 22 (15.3%) were recent infarcts, and 7 were cases of anoxic brain damage. Of the recent cerebral infarcts, 12 were associated with cerebral artery thrombosis, 4 showed multiple lesions, and the remaining 6 were small single infarcts. In addition, one subject had an intracerebral hemorrhage and 72 (50%) cerebral edema. By cast angiography, the leakage of contrast medium in the case of intracerebral hemorrhage and stenoses of intracranial and cervical arteries could be well demonstrated and also revealed 17 (77%) of the 22 recent cerebral infarcts. It was found to be suitable for detecting recent brain infarcts associated with main cerebral artery thrombosis, with a sensitivity of 92% (11 out of 12 cases), but was less sensitive in showing small recent infarcts with a sensitivity of 60% (6 out of 10 cases) and inferior for the older ones where none of the 6 cases were detected. Filling defects caused by cerebral edema were difficult to differentiate from technical errors and were encountered in 7 (4.8%) cases. A significant predictor for the 29 recent ischemic brain lesions was perioperative hypotension. The immediate cause of death was most often of cardiac (83%) and cerebral (14%) origin. In 14 cases, cerebral damage was considered to be an additional cause of death. The use of cerebral post-mortem cast angiography should be recommended, especially for its excellent ability to visualize intravascular pathology such as arterial stenoses and thromboses, with a 92% sensitivity in showing new main cerebral artery thromboses, before likely distortion of the vascular anatomy by dissection. Received: 18 January 2000 / Accepted: 26 April 2000     

Identification of victims from the M/S Estonia

With 852 victims from 17 different countries, the sinking of the Estonia was Europe’s most severe passenger ferry disaster. The Finnish Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team identified all 93 victims recovered from the sea within 33 days of the accident as well as victim number 94 found 18 months later. Dental identification was established in 57 cases (60%). Received: 2 December 1999 / Accepted: 5 July 2000