Production of herpes B virus recombinant glycoproteins and evaluation of their diagnostic potential

B virus (cercopithecine herpesvirus 1) is the only deadly alphaherpesvirus that is zoonotically transmissible from macaques to humans. The detection of humoral immune responses is the method of choice for the rapid identification of B virus-infected animals. We evaluated the diagnostic potential of recombinant B virus glycoproteins for the detection of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in monkey and human sera. Glycoproteins B, C, and E and secreted (sgG) and membrane-associated (mgG) segments of glycoprotein G (gG) were expressed in the baculovirus expression system, while gD was expressed in CHO cells. We developed recombinant protein-based IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and compared their diagnostic efficacies by using B virus antibody-negative (n = 40) and -positive (n = 75) macaque sera identified by a whole antigen-based ELISA and Western blotting. The diagnostic sensitivities of the gB-, gC-, gD-, and mgG-ELISAs were 100, 97.3, 88.0, and 80.0%, respectively. The specificities of the gB-, gC-, and gD-ELISAs and of the mgG-ELISA were 100 and 97.5%, respectively. In contrast, the sensitivities and specificities of sgG- and gE-ELISAs were low, suggesting that sgG and gE are less effective diagnostic antigens. Sera from nonmacaque monkeys cross-reacted with gB, gC, and gD, and only baboon sera reacted weakly with mgG. Human herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)- and HSV-2-positive sera pools reacted with gB and gD, whereas sera from B virus-infected individuals reacted with all four antigens. These data indicate that gB, gC, gD, and mgG have a high diagnostic potential for B virus serodiagnosis in macaques, whereas mgG may be a valuable antigen for discrimination between antibodies induced by B virus and those induced by other, closely related alphaherpesviruses, including HSV-1 and -2.     

Chronic treatment of female rhesus monkeys with low doses of the antiprogestin ZK 137 316: establishment of a regimen that permits normal menstrual cyclicity

Large doses of antiprogestin typically disrupt menstrual cyclicity. A chronic low-dose regimen of the potent new antiprogestin ZK 137 316, which permits continued menstrual cyclicity but alters gonadal- reproductive tract activity, was established. Rhesus monkeys received vehicle (n = 6) or 0.01 (n = 8), 0.03 (n = 8) or 0.1 (n = 5) mg ZK 137 316/kg body weight daily for five menstrual cycles (C-1 to C-5). Oestradiol, progesterone and gonadotrophin profiles were normal during cycles involving vehicle and 0.01 and 0.03 mg ZK 137 316/kg body weight. In the 0.1 mg/kg group, mid-cycle oestradiol and gonadotrophin surges, and subsequent progesterone production, were absent in C-3 and C-5. Ovarian cyclicity was accompanied by timely menstruation in the vehicle and 0.01 mg/kg groups. By C-3, half the animals in the 0.03 mg/kg group and all animals in the 0.1 mg/kg group were amenorrhoeic. A corpus luteum was noted during the mid-luteal phase of C-5 in the vehicle, 0.01 mg/kg and 0.03 mg/kg groups. Large antral and cystic follicles were evident in the 0.1 mg/kg group. Thus, a daily treatment with 0.01 mg/kg ZK 136317 permitted normal menstrual cyclicity in macaques. While the daily administration of 0.03 mg/kg ZK 136 317 allowed ovarian cyclicity, menstruation was disrupted in some animals. Increasing the dose to 0.1 mg/kg antagonized pituitary function and resulted in anovulation and amenorrhoea. A chronic low-dose regimen of the antiprogestin ZK 137 316, which permits normal ovarian/menstrual cyclicity, has potential as a contraceptive in women.      

Tourniquet inflation after intra-articular morphine and bupivacaine administration following knee arthroscopy

We performed a randomized doubled-blind study to evaluate whether there was a benefit in delay in tourniquet deflation with intra-articular administration of morphine and bupivacaine following operative arthroscopic surgery. In 34 patients the tourniquet was deflated immediately and in 38 patients the tourniquet remained inflated for 10 min following injection. The analgesic efficacy was assessed using pain scores and the amount of supplementary analgesia required. The results demonstrate no benefit in delay in tourniquet deflation.     

Effect of High Doses of Radiation on Human Neutrophil Chemotaxis, Phagocytosis and Morphology

Human neutrophils were exposed to varying amounts of ionizing radiation up to 1,000,000 rad and evaluated as to their ability to respond to chemotactic stimuli and phagocytize and kill bacteria. Striking morphologic and functional resistance to radiation was apparent. At doses up to 5,000 rad there was little or no impairment of chemotaxis. As the dosage increased to 50,000 rad, chemotaxis decreased to approximately 50% of nonirradiated control values. At very high doses of radiation (250,000 to 1,000,000 rad) neutrophils failed to respond significantly to chemotactic stimuli. Effects of radiation as measured by phagocytosis and the degree of ultrastructural change paralleled the chemotaxis results.     

MR imaging with surface coils

The use of specialized coils to improve signal-to-noise ratios in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is an important innovation. The role of surface coils has not yet been well defined, but it seems likely that they will be routinely used for clinical imaging of the orbit, neck, and spine. Surface coils have important limitations that make other designs, such as "closely coupled" volume coils, attractive for some applications, especially for limb imaging. With improvement in our ability to visualize anatomy with MR imaging, specialized radio frequency coils may provide new imaging capabilities for clinical problems that were not previously considered to be indications for diagnostic imaging.     

Work factors facilitating working beyond state pension age: Prospective cohort study with register follow-up

Objectives:The demographic changes in Europe underline the need for an extension of working lives. This study investigates the importance of physical work demands and psychosocial work factors for working beyond the state pension age (65 years).Methods:We combined data from three cohorts of the general working population in Denmark (DWECS 2005 and 2010, and DANES 2008), where actively employed workers aged 55–59 years replied to questionnaires about work environment and were followed until the age of 66 years in the Danish AMRun register of paid employment. Using logistic regression analyses, we calculated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between physical and psychosocial work factors and working beyond state pension age, adjusted for age, sex, cohort, cohabiting, sector, income, vocational education, working hours, lifestyle, and previous sickness absence.Results:Of the 2884 workers aged 55–59 years, 1023 (35.5%) worked beyond the state pension age. Higher physical work demands was associated with a lower likelihood (PR 0.69, 95% CI 0.58–0.82) and a good psychosocial work environment was associated with higher likelihood (average of 7 items: PR 1.81, 95% CI 1.49–2.20) of working beyond state pension age. Stratified analyses did not change the overall pattern, ie, a good overall psychosocial work environment – as well as several specific psychosocial factors – increased the likelihood of working beyond state pension age, both for those with physically active and seated work.Conclusion:While high physical work demands was a barrier, a good psychosocial work environment seems to facilitate working beyond state pension age, also for those with physically active work.