Systematic analysis of funding awarded for norovirus research to institutions in the United Kingdom, 1997–2010

Objectives

Norovirus infections pose great economic and disease burden to health systems around the world. This study quantifies the investments in norovirus research awarded to UK institutions over a 14-year time period.

Design

A systematic analysis of public and philanthropic infectious disease research investments awarded to UK institutions between 1997 and 2010.

Participants

None

Setting

UK institutions carrying out infectious disease research.

Main outcome measures

Total funding for infectious disease research, total funding for norovirus research, position of norovirus research along the R&D value chain.

Results

The total dataset consisted of 6165 studies with sum funding of £2.6 billion. Twelve norovirus studies were identified with a total funding of £5.1 million, 0.2% of the total dataset. Of these, eight were categorized as pre-clinical, three as intervention studies and one as implementation research. Median funding was £200,620.

Conclusions

Research funding for norovirus infections in the UK appears to be unacceptably low, given the burden of disease and disability produced by these infections. There is a clear need for new research initiatives along the R&D value chain: from pre-clinical through to implementation research, including trials to assess cost-effectiveness of infection control policies as well as clinical, public health and environmental interventions in hospitals, congregate settings and in the community.     

Analysis of naturally processed peptides eluted from HLA DRB1 *0402 and *0404

Understanding the structural features of naturally processed peptides found within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II peptide binding groove from disease-associated MHC molecules may provide insights into the nature of potential disease-related antigens. Class II MHC/peptide complexes were purified by immunoaffinity from transformed B cell lines homozygous for DRB1*0404 (an allele associated with rheumatoid arthritis) and *0402 (a closely related allele not associated with this disease). Peptides were eluted at acidic pH, fractionated by reversed phase HPLC, and analyzed by capillary electrophoresis. Those fractions containing a single dominant peptide were sequenced by automated Edman degradation and tandem mass spectrometry. The predominant peptide species identified came from non-polymorphic regions of the HLA class I molecules expressed by each cell line. Peptides from DRB1*0404 were found to be nested clusters derived from positions 26–43 of the HLA-B and -C α-chain. DRB1*0402 contained as the predominant peptide species a nested cluster from positions 129–145 of the HLA-B α-chain. The primary structure of the class I derived peptides was consistent with that seen by peptides exhibiting promiscuous DR binding behavior. Processing of MHC-derived peptides by MHC class II molecules is a common occurrence in the transformed B cell lines analyzed. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The Effect of Body Position on Flavor Release and Perception: Implications for fMRI Studies

Increasingly functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain is being used to assess the cortical response to flavor perception. fMRI requires the subject to adopt a supine position; hence, if the results from such experiments are to be meaningfully extrapolated to flavor perception, it is pertinent to establish whether body position has a significant impact on consumers’ sensitivity to flavor. Body position is known to impact on some aspects of sensory perception, but no studies have reported the effect of body position on retronasal flavor perception. In this study, A/Not-A tests (ISO 1987), together with sureness ratings, were performed to evaluate subjects’ (n?=?10) ability to differentiate between two subtly different emulsion samples under two conditions: seated in a quiet sensory booth environment and supine in a 3 T fMRI scanner mimicking real scanning conditions. In vivo volatile release was also measured in both seated and supine positions using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Results indicated that body position had some impact on volatile release, but no overall effect on subject’s ability to discriminate between the two samples was observed. Consequently, brain imaging data collected in this context at least would have direct relevance to sensory perception data. However, more extensive research is required to fully understand the impact of body position on flavor perception and release.     

Subtalar dislocation: Evaluation and management in the emergency department

Subtalar dislocations are sufficiently uncommon to be unfamiliar but require appropriate recognition and management to effect a good outcome. These dislocations benefit from urgent reduction that is essential to limiting sustained disability. Most can be reduced by closed manipulation at the time of presentation. Three cases of subtalar dislocations are presented followed by a discussion of the subject.     

Urinary Nuclear Matrix Protein as a Marker for Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Urinary Tract

Purpose

The purpose of this trial was to evaluate an immunoassay for urinary nuclear matrix protein, NMP22,^* as an indicator for transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract.

Materials and Methods

Three groups of subjects participated in this trial of NMP22: 1--175 with transitional cell carcinoma, 2--117 with benign urinary tract conditions and 3--375 healthy volunteers. Each subject provided a single (3 voids) urine sample for analysis at the time of study entry. Each sample was assayed for the level of NMP22.

Results

In normal healthy volunteers and in subjects with benign conditions median NMP22 levels were 2.9 and 3.3 units per ml., respectively. Median urinary NMP22 levels in patients with transitional cell carcinoma were significantly greater than in comparison subjects. Patients with active transitional cell carcinoma had significantly greater median urinary NMP22 levels than those with no evidence of disease (6.04 versus 4.11 units per ml., p = 0.027, 1-tailed Mann-Whitney U test). We noted no effect of tumor grade, extent of disease or exposure to intravesical therapy on urinary NMP22 levels.

Conclusions

NMP22 is a promising urinary tumor marker for monitoring transitional cell carcinoma. Nuclear matrix proteins are a new class of tumor markers that represent the basis for the development of assays with increased efficacy for the detection and treatment of cancer.