The fourth genus in the Orthomyxoviridae: sequence analyses of two Thogoto virus polymerase proteins and comparison with influenza viruses

The tick-borne Thogoto virus (THOV) is the type species of a newly recognized fourth genus, Thogotovirus, in the family Orthomyxoviridae. Because of the distant relationship of THOV with the influenza viruses, determination of its genomic information can potentially be used to identify important domains in influenza virus proteins. We have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the second longest RNA segment of THOV. The molecule comprises 2212 nucleotides with a single large open reading frame encoding a protein of 710 amino acids, estimated M_r 81 284. The protein shares 77% amino acid similarity with the PB1-like protein of Dhori virus, a related tick-borne virus, and 50–53% with the PB1 polymerase proteins of influenza virus A, B and C. All the motifs characteristic of RNA-dependent polymerases were identified including the SSDD motif common to all RNA-dependant RNA polymerases, indicating that the THOV protein is functionally analogous to the influenza virus PB1 proteins and involved in chain elongation. We also report the corrected sequence of the third longest RNA segment of THOV, encoding a protein which shares 44–47% amino acid similarity with the PA-like polymerase proteins of influenza virus A, B and C. The biological significance of conserved domains in these orthomyxovirid proteins is discussed.     

An unusual rotational fracture-dislocation of the thoracic spine without neurologic sequelae internally fixed with a combined anterior and posterior approach

A rare complete lateral dislocation of the thoracic spine with preservation of neurologic function is reported. Anatomic reduction was obtained using an anterior approach and Harrington distraction rods for reduction followed by a broad plate and subsequent posterior segmental fixation and fusion. Long-term followup showed an excellent result.     

Myocardial stiffness and reparative fibrosis following coronary embolisation in the rat

The structural nature of fibrillar collagen involved in the replacement fibrosis which accompanies discrete areas of cell necrosis remains uncertain, as does its influence on the diastolic and systolic stiffness of the intact myocardium. This study, using 15 micron diameter microsphere embolisation of the rat myocardium, was undertaken to address these issues. Collagen volume fraction (trichrome), fibrillar collagens (picrosirius-polarisation technique), and the stress-strain relations of the intact myocardium (isolated hearts) were determined 30 d after the infusion of microspheres into the left ventricle. Significant differences from controls included: (a) the presence of hypertension secondary to renovascular embolisation; (b) a greater volume fraction of collagen that included not only a meshwork of short, taut appearing, thick and thin collagen fibres, interposed between muscle in areas of cell loss, but also a perivascular fibrosis involving intramyocardial coronary arteries; (c) elevated active stiffness, and (d) a more exponential diastolic stress-strain relation with increased stiffness at strains of 5% or more. These findings suggest that the replacement fibrosis accompanying myocyte necrosis has distinguishing morphological features involving fibrillar collagen and which because of its structure, alignment, and location relative to muscle leads to enhanced myocardial stiffness, including a more exponential rise in the diastolic stress-strain relation. The perivascular accumulation of collagen suggests that additional factors other than microsphere induced necrosis were responsible for this reactive fibrosis.     

Autotomy and the sciatic functional index

The rat sciatic nerve serves as a good model of nerve regeneration and, as such, is often used in investigations of nerve repair. After transection of the sciatic nerve, rodents frequently scratch and bite their anesthetic foot, resulting in amputation of one or more toes. This is termed autotomy or autophagy. When these rats are part of a study using the sciatic functional index (SFI), autotomy results in unusable data, since necessary foot landmarks have been removed. It would be helpful, therefore, to be familiar with the phenomenon of autotomy and to know which rats are least likely to mutilate themselves. In our experiment involving 64 rats in which the sciatic nerve was transected and repaired, we found that female Sprague-Dawley rats were significantly less likely to perform autotomy than males (33% vs. 65%, P =.04). In addition, we noted that two-thirds of the autotomies that occurred did so by postoperative week 4 and that tabasco sauce did not decrease this activity. We present our experience and a survey of the literature on autotomy and the SFI. © 1993 Wiley-Liss Inc.     

Evaluation of several film/screen combinations for megavoltage radiation therapy treatment field verification

The introduction of a lower cost alternative to a film commonly used for megavoltage radiation therapy port films led to a comparison of two films (Kodak X-TL and X-OMAT G) in four metal screen cassette configurations. In addition to determination of H-D curves and point spread functions, images of humanoid phantom sections were obtained and evaluated for clinical "usefulness." The X-OMAT G film-screen combinations compared favorably with the X-TL film combinations with respect to the H-D Curves and point spread functions but there was a slight preference for X-TL film. There were no differences noted whether the film was used in the standard "ready pack" or naked in the cassettes.     

Research priorities for burn nursing: report of the psychosocial issues group.

This study was designed to identify nursing research priorities in burn care. The Delphi technique of sequential questionnaires was used for data collection. Ninety-four participants completed four rounds of questionnaires. One hundred and one research questions were identified, and priorities were assigned according to their impact on patient welfare and on the profession of burn nursing. Twenty-two of these research questions concerned psychosocial issues. This group of questions was then analyzed for priority research issues. The top five ranked questions in the psychosocial issues group for impact on patient welfare concerned: (1) stress reduction techniques, (2) social reentry strategies, (3) management of psychosis and post-traumatic stress disorder, (4) strategies to assist patients with impaired communication capabilities, and (5) the role of recovered burn survivors in encouraging patient compliance with treatments. Similarly, the top five ranked questions for impact on the profession of burn nursing concerned: (1) stress reduction strategies, (2) coping techniques for burn survivors, (3) management of psychosis and post-traumatic stress disorder, (4) nursing's supportive role in regard to "do not resuscitate" orders, and (5) coping strategies to be used with patients who express a desire to die.     

The controversy about a sexual dimorphism of the human corpus callosum

A sexual dimorphism of the splenium corporis callosi in man was reported in 1982. The authors described the posterior part of the female corpus callosum to be larger and more bulbous than its male counterpart. From the lateralization research, it has previously been stated that the female brain is less well lateralized for visuospatial functions than the male. The authors postulated that a larger splenium implies a larger number of fibers and that the number of interhemispheric fibers correlates inversely with lateralization of function. However, their sample was very small and not adequately matched for sex. Therefore, we reinvestigated this question. A standardized computer assisted program will be presented. With this program the "classical" parameters have been evaluated and the "rotatory diameter measurement" was performed. No differences between the sexes were seen either for the splenium corporis callosi or for the other parts of the corpus callosum.     

Zur Verletzungsdynamik des geworfenen,spitz-scharfen Wurfsterns

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe einer Hochfrequenzkamera wurden Translationsgeschwindigkeit und Rotationsgeschwindigkeit eines geworfenen, stilettartig spitzen und geschärften Wurfsterns ermittelt, um mit diesen Geschwindigkeiten die Auftreffenergie des Wurfsterns zu berechnen. Die dabei gewonnenen Ergebnisse beweisen, daß durch diese Wurfsterne tödliche Eindringtiefen in den Körper zu erzielen sind. Der Handel mit diesen Sportgeräten sollte gesetzlich untersagt werden.Herrn Professor Dr. med. G. Dotzauer zum 75. Geburtstag     

Propagation of alloreactive lymphocytes from histologically negative endomyocardial biopsies from heart transplant patients. Association with subsequent histological evidence of allograft rejection

Endomyocardial biopsies from heart transplant patients were cultured in vitro in the presence of Interleukin-2 and irradiated feeder cells to propagate graft-infiltrating lymphocytes. A correlation was seen between the frequency of lymphocyte growth and the degree of cellular infiltration of the biopsies. In this study, 43 of 113 (38%) histologically negative biopsies obtained from 55 patients during the first month post-transplant yielded lymphocyte cultures. The cumulative incidence of subsequent histological rejection was considerably higher in patients with such "grower" biopsies than in patients with "nongrower" biopsies. In the grower group, we were able to obtain data on alloreactivity of 32 lymphocyte cultures assayed by primed lymphocyte testing (PLT). The presence of donor-specific PLT reactivity in the cultured lymphocytes was associated with an additional risk for subsequent histological rejection. These findings suggest that the in vitro culturing of histologically negative endomyocardial biopsies will identify patients at increased risk for developing heart transplant rejection.