Effects of Lysosomal Membrane Protein Depletion on the Salmonella-Containing Vacuole

Salmonella is an intracellular bacterial pathogen that replicates within a membrane-bound vacuole in host cells. The major lysosomal membrane proteins 1 and 2 (LAMP-1 and LAMP-2) are recruited to the Salmonella-containing vacuole as well as Salmonella- associated filaments (Sifs) that emerge from the vacuole. LAMP-1 is a dominant membrane marker for the vacuole and Sifs. Its colocalization with both is dependent on a major secreted bacterial virulence protein, SifA. Here, we show that SifA is required for the recruitment of LAMP-2 and can be used as a second independent marker for both the bacterial vacuolar membrane and Sifs. Further, RNAi studies revealed that in LAMP-1 depleted cells, the bacteria remain membrane bound as measured by their association with LAMP-2 protein. In contrast, LAMP-2 depletion increased the amount of LAMP-1 free bacteria. Together, the data suggests that despite its abundance, LAMP-1 is not essential, but LAMP-2 may be partially important for the Salmonella-containing vacuolar membrane.     

Cervical dilatation and prematurity revisited

Cervical examination between 26 and 30 weeks' gestation is described as a method for identifying women at risk for delivery before 34 weeks. Blinded cervical examinations were performed in 185 consecutive women, and 15 (8%) were found to have cervixes dilated 2 or 3 cm. The incidence of delivery before 34 weeks' gestation was 27% in such women compared with 2% in those whose cervixes were undilated or 1 cm. Other factors linked to cervical dilatation included parity and prior preterm delivery. However, parous women with cervical dilatation remained at increased risk for delivery before 34 weeks' gestation. We conclude that early third-trimester cervical examination may be an important adjunct in identifying women at risk for preterm delivery.     

Relaxin in sera during the luteal phase of in-vitro fertilization cycles.

To identify the time when relaxin can first be detected in peripheral sera after in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer, blood samples were collected from 20 women up to 14 days after oocyte retrieval. Sixteen women did not become pregnant and in eight of them relaxin (but not beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin, beta-hCG) was measurable for the first time at days 6 to 12. Concentrations of other hormones measured were also different in these eight women compared with the remaining eight non-pregnant women; their serum concentrations of 17 alpha-OH progesterone, progesterone and oestradiol were higher but concentrations of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone were lower. Three women became pregnant; relaxin and beta-hCG were first detected on the same day (10 to 12). The remaining woman had increased beta-hCG levels but did not develop a clinical pregnancy. Measurement of serum relaxin during IVF cycles may allow assessment of corpora luteal function before its identification by levels of steroid hormones.     

The Health of Teenagers: A Focused Ethnographic Study

This study, a focused community analysis, was conducted to determine the health needs and status of the aggregate of school-aged adolescents (13–18 years) using a method combining an epidemiologic approach with an ethnographic field method. Health was defined broadly, assumed to be interrelated with environmental, economic, social, educational, and cultural variables influencing adolescent life. The research involved five steps: collection of available secondary epidemiologic and census data; interviews with key informants, such as teachers, parents, school nurses, and other adults working with teenagers; participant observation and ethnographic interviews with primary informants, that is, teenagers from a variety of backgrounds; and finally, analysis and reporting of secondary and ethnographic data. Of the many themes generated in the data collection, four are reported here: lifestyle, health, pregnancy, and substance abuse. Findings included a typology of subgroups of the adolescent population that influenced lifestyles and led to different attitudes toward health, pregnancy, and substance abuse. The ethnographic approach facilitated an understanding of the health needs and attitudes of teenagers, implying a need for altered interventions and approaches by adults teaching and caring for them.     

Risk factors associated with anal sphincter tear difference among midwife,private obstetrician,and resident deliveries

To identify risk factors that account for the difference in anal sphincter tear (AST) among midwife, private obstetrician, and resident deliveries. We performed a retrospective review of our obstetrical database and used logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors for AST. The relationship between delivery technique and AST was evaluated by comparing AST increase between vaginal deliveries without and with an episiotomy among the three categories of providers. After adjusting for risk factors, private obstetricians (OR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.27-2.56) and residents (OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.20-2.15) had a higher rate of AST during vaginal delivery than midwives. Episiotomy increased the odds of AST by four-fold for midwives, two-fold for private obstetricians, and eight-fold for residents. Although midwife and resident's delivery methods were associated with more AST, neither experienced this complication more frequently than private obstetricians. This suggests that midwives and residents probably misdiagnosed some AST.     

Radiographic assessment of skeletal maturation stages for orthodontic patients: hand-wrist bones or cervical vertebrae?

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The skeletal maturation status of a growing patient can influence the selection of orthodontic treatment procedures. Either lateral cephalometric or hand-wrist radiography can be used to assess skeletal development. In this study, we examined the correlation between the maturation stages of cervical vertebrae and hand-wrist bones in Taiwanese individuals. METHODS: The study group consisted of 330 male and 379 female subjects ranging in age from 8 to 18 years. A total of 709 hand-wrist and 709 lateral cephalometric radiographs were analyzed. Hand-wrist maturation stages were assessed using National Taiwan University Hospital Skeletal Maturation Index (NTUH-SMI). Cervical vertebral maturation stages were determined by the latest Cervical Vertebral Maturation Stage (CVMS) Index. Spearman's rank correlation was used to correlate the respective maturation stages assessed from the hand-wrist bones and the cervical vertebrae. RESULTS: The values of Spearman's rank correlation were 0.910 for males and 0.937 for females, respectively. These data confirmed a strong and significant correlation between CVMS and NTUH-SMI systems (p less than 0.001). After comparison of the mean ages of subjects in different stages of CVMS and NTU-SMI systems, we found that CVMS I corresponded to NTUH-SMI stages 1 and 2, CVMS II to NTUH-SMI stage 3, CVMS III to NTUHSMI stage 4, CVMS IV to NTUH-SMI stage 5, CVMS V to NTUH-SMI stages 6, 7 and 8, and CVMS VI to NTUH-SMI stage 9. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that cervical vertebral maturation stages can be used to replace hand-wrist bone maturation stages for evaluation of skeletal maturity in Taiwanese individuals.