A group-specific,indirect sandwich ELISA for the detection of equine encephalosis virus antigen

A polyclonal antibody-based, group-specific, indirect, sandwich ELISA (S-ELISA) for the detection of equine encephalosis virus (EEV) antigen was developed. Purified EEV particles were titrated in the S-ELISA and the limit of detection was determined to be approximately 9.0 ng of antigen/ml (0.45 ng/well). Positive S-ELISA reactions were recorded with seven serologically distinct EEV serotypes. No cross-reactions were recorded with other arboviruses including African horse sickness virus (AHSV) serotypes 1-9, bluetongue serotypes 1-24, epizootic haemorrhagic disease serotypes 1-8 and isolate 318, and selected isolates of Palyam, Eubenangee, Corriparta, Warrego, Akabane and bovine ephemeral fever viruses. The assay proved to be sensitive and specific for the rapid detection of EEV in cell cultures and in homogenated suckling mouse brain (MB). The data generated in this study suggest that the ELISA will be valuable for epidemiological studies of EE and will assist in making a reliable differential diagnosis between EEV and AHSV infections.     

Clonal chromosome aberrations in a keratoacanthoma and a basal cell papilloma

Clonal chromosome abnormalities were found in short-term cultures from two epithelial skin tumors, a basal cell papilloma and a keratoacanthoma. The three-way translocation t(2;6;11)(q21;q27;p13) was the sole clonal rearrangement in the basal cell papilloma. The karyotype of the keratoacanthoma was more complex: 46,XX,der(2)(2pter----2p13::2p11----cen----2q37: :5q33----5qter),der(2) (:2p13----cen----2q37::6q23----6qter),der(5)t(2; 7;5)(q37;q11;q33),der(6) (6pter----cen----6q23::2p13----2pter),der(7)t(2; 7;5)(q37;q11;q33), del(13)(q11q14). In addition, several nonclonal structural changes were seen in both tumors.     

Aciclovir selects for ganciclovir-cross-resistance of human cytomegalovirus in vitro that is only in part explained by known mutations in the UL97 protein

Phenotypically, ganciclovir-resistant human cytomegalovirus strains could be selected by aciclovir as effectively as by ganciclovir in vitro. Three clinical human cytomegalovirus isolates with different sensitivities against ganciclovir, aciclovir, foscarnet, and cidofovir, but without any mutation in the viral UL97 protein known to confer ganciclovir resistance, were propagated each in duplicate in the presence of ganciclovir or aciclovir. After drug selection, all 12 strains were less susceptible to ganciclovir (increase of 50% focus reduction dose between 2.1- and 31.5-fold) but were still sensitive to foscarnet and cidofovir; 7/12 exhibited a ganciclovir-resistant phenotype with a 50% focus reduction dose >30 microM, and in 6 out of these typical mutations in the UL97 coding region could be found by genotyping. All four strains selected from one isolate carried the identical UL97 mutation at amino acid position 460 (methionine to valine). The decreased sensitivity to ganciclovir and aciclovir in the other strains could neither be attributed to known UL97 mutations nor to mutations in the viral polymerase (UL54), which have been reported to induce resistance.     

New high yield Cu(I) assisted 123I radioiodination of 15(p-I-phenyl)-9-methyl pentadecanoic acid,a potential myocardial tracer

A new high yield ¹²³I radioiodination (97%), based on the Cu(I) assisted isotopic exchange in an ethanol water mixture, of 15(p-I-phenyl)-9 methyl pentadecanoic acid, a potential myocardial tracer, is proposed. The method allows a true kit preparation of radioiodinated phenyl fatty acids for a substrate concentration of ±10^-6 moles. High specific activities (>0.1 mCi/g) can be obtained when coupling the labelling method to HPLC purification with an overall radiochemical yield of 75%.     

Reemergence of Scabies Driven by Adolescents and Young Adults,Germany, 2009–2018

To validate anecdotal evidence on scabies infestations, we analyzed inpatient and outpatient claims data in Germany. Scabies diagnoses increased 9-fold and treatment failure 4-fold during 2009–2018, driven mainly by persons 15–24 years of age. Prevention and control in young adults appear key because of these persons’ high mobility and social connectivity.     

Nonrandom secondary chromosome-aberrations in liposarcomas with t(12, 16)

Ten liposarcomas were analyzed cytogenetically after short-term culturing. Eight tumors had a t(12;16) (q13;p11) and two tumors had complex translocations involving chromosomes 7, 12, and 16 and 2, 9, 12, 16 and 20, respectively. Among the secondary aberrations seen in five tumors, +8 was found in two tumors and i(7)(q10) in four tumors. Trisomy 8 has previously been described as a nonrandom secondary aberration in myxoid liposarcoma, but i(7q) has only been reported in a single case before. All recurrent chromosome aberrations reported in liposarcomas with recombination between 12q13 and 16p11 (42 cases) were surveyed and compared with their frequencies in liposarcomas without this recombination (33 cases). Trisomy 5 and 8 were found in both tumor groups, whereas +19, t(3;15)(p23;q15), del(6)(q21), i(7q), and rearrangements of 1p11 and 2q35 were found exclusively in tumors with 12q13 and 16p11 aberrations.     

Undetectable serum thyroglobulin in a patient with metastatic follicular thyroid cancer

The case of a 54-year-old woman with metastatic follicular thyroid cancer and undetectable serum thyroglobulin is presented. Many years after the patient had a subtotal thyroidectomy for a large goiter that had no clear evidence of malignancy, metastatic bone disease developed. When the bone metastases were detected and during the follow-up period, serum thyroglobulin values remained undetectable, but radioiodine uptake in the metastases was abundant. This case indicates that the combination of 1-131 scintigraphy and serum thyroglobulin values is superior to the measurement of serum thyroglobulin alone in detecting well-differentiated, metastatic thyroid cancer.     

Precentral cortex stimulation for the treatment of central neuropathic pain: results of a prospective study in a 20-patient series

The authors report a series of 23 patients with central neuropathic pain who were treated with the recently developed technique of precentral cortex stimulation (PCS). Of the 20 patients with a follow-up of more than 1 year (mean of 23 months) 25% had an excellent, 35% a good and 15% a fair relief of pain. In 25% the method failed. On the basis of these findings and the literature data (127 reported cases), the authors advocate PCS in patients with severe and medically refractory poststroke pain.