Phenotypically distinct subsets of CD4+ T cells induce or protect from chronic intestinal inflammation in C. B-17 scid mice

CD4⁺ T cells in the mouse can be subdivided into two fractionsbased on the level of expression of the CD45RB determinant.Previous studies have shown that these subsets are functionallydistinct. We have further characterized the properties of thesesubpopulations in vivo by injecting them into C. B-17 scid mice.The animals restored with the CD45RB^highCD4⁺ T cell populationdeveloped a lethal wasting disease with severe mononuclear cellinfiltrates into the colon and elevated levels of IFN- mRNA.In contrast, animals restored with the reciprocal CD45RB^lowsubset or with unfractionated CD4⁺ T cells did not develop thewasting or colitis. Importantly, the co-transfer of the CD45RB^lowpopulation with the CD45RB^high population prevented the wastingdisease and colitis. These data indicate that important regulatoryinteractions occur between the CD45RB^high and CD45RB^lowCD4⁺T cell subsets and that disruption of this mechanism has fatalconsequences.     

Identification of neurons with acetylcholinesterase and NADPH-diaphorase activities in the centrifugal visual system of the chick

The isthmo-optic nuclei (ION) and ectopic neurons, which constitute the centrifugal visual system (CVS), are thought to be cholinoceptive and nitrergic. However, it is not clear which neurons express these markers, namely the ones that project to the retina rather than in neurons that only participate in a local circuit. Therefore, to characterize the neurochemical patterns of the centrifugal visual system in the post-hatched chick, retinopetal cells of the isthmo-optic nuclei and the ectopic region were identified via immunolabeling for cholera toxin, a neuronal tracer, which has been injected in the ocular globe. Then, double labeled with acetylcholinesterase histochemistry to reveal cholinergic synapses, or NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry as a nitrergic marker. Briefly, acetylcholinesterase activity was present mainly in cholera toxin labeled cell bodies of the isthmo-optic nucleus and the ectopic region indicating that retinal projecting neurons of centrifugal visual system comprise a cholinoceptive pathway. On the other hand, NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry was present in the neuropile and sparse cell bodies inside of the isthmo-optic nucleus and in ectopic neurons which were not cholera toxin positive suggesting their role in an intrinsic circuit of the centrifugal visual system. These data support the idea that these two neurochemical systems are present in distinct neuronal populations in the centrifugal visual system.     

Implementing a Stratified Vocational Advice Intervention for People on Sick Leave with Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Multimethod Process Evaluation

Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation - Purpose To perform a process evaluation of a stratified vocational advice intervention (SVAI), delivered by physiotherapists in primary care, for people on...     

Barriers and Facilitators to Participation in Health Screening: an Umbrella Review Across Conditions

Prevention Science - Screening is an essential prevention practice for a number of health conditions. However, screening coverage remains generally low. Studies that investigate determinants of...     

High Prevalence of Low Birth Weight Babies Born to Pregnant Women Referred to a District Hospital in Rural Zambia

Maternal and Child Health Journal - Low birthweight (LBW) is a significant public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa and LBW in rural Zambia is high. Our study explored the prevalence of LBW for...     

Barriers and Facilitators to Effective Implementation of the NAMWEZA Intervention in Dar es Salaam,Tanzania

Prevention Science - The NAMWEZA intervention was implemented, using a ten-session group format, to build skills targeting psychosocial vulnerabilities and enhancing HIV prevention among people...     

In Vivo Observation of Cutaneous Larva Migrans by Fluorescence-Advanced Videodermatoscopy

Fluorescence-advanced videodermatoscopy is not a widespread diagnostic technique. Its application in dermatology can facilitate the diagnosis of diseases such as cutaneous larva migrans by enabling us to recognize the precise position of larva in vivo on the skin. Using this noninvasive technique, we detected a case of cutaneous larva migrans in a patient.     

The implementation of an infection control bundle within a Total Care Burns Unit

AimTo evaluate the impact of the implementation of a best practice infection prevention and control bundle on healthcare associated burn wound infections in a paediatric burns unit.BackgroundBurn patients are vulnerable to infection. For this patient population, infection is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, thereby representing a significant challenge for burns clinicians who care for them.MethodsAn interrupted time series was used to compare healthcare associated burn wound infections in paediatric burn patients before and after implementation of an infection prevention and control bundle. Prospective surveillance of healthcare associated burn wound infections was conducted from 2012 to 2014. Other potential healthcare associated infection rates were also reviewed over the study period, including urinary tract infections, pneumonia, upper respiratory tract infections and sepsis. An infection prevention and control bundle developed in collaboration between the paediatric burn unit and infection control clinicians was implemented in 2013 in addition to previous standard practice.ResultsDuring the study period a total of 626 patients were admitted to the paediatric burns unit. Healthcare associated burn wound infections reduced from 34 in 2012 to 0 in 2014 following the implementation of the infection prevention and control bundle. Pneumonia and sepsis also reduced to 0 in 2013 and 2014, however one upper respiratory tract infection occurred in 2013 and urinary tract infections persisted in 2013.ConclusionThe implementation of an infection prevention and control bundle was effective in reducing healthcare associated burn wound infections, pneumonia and sepsis within our paediatric burns unit. Urinary tract infections remain a challenge for future improvement.     

Safety and Efficacy of a Steroid Avoidance Immunosuppression Regimen in Renal Transplant Patients With De Novo or Preformed Donor-Specific Antibodies: A Single-Center Study

Although interest in the role of donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) in kidney transplant rejection, graft survival, and histopathological outcomes is increasing, their impact on steroid avoidance or minimization in renal transplant populations is poorly understood. Primary outcomes of graft survival, rejection, and histopathological findings were assessed in 188 patients who received transplants between 2012 and 2015 at the Scripps Center for Organ Transplantation, which follows a steroid avoidance protocol. Analyses were performed using data from the United Network for Organ Sharing. Cohorts included kidney transplant recipients with de novo DSAs (dnDSAs; n = 27), preformed DSAs (pfDSAs; n = 15), and no DSAs (nDSAs; n = 146). Median time to dnDSA development (classes I and II) was shorter (102 days) than in previous studies. Rejection of any type was associated with DSAs to class I HLA (P < .05) and class II HLA (P < .01) but not with graft loss. Although mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) independently showed no association with rejection, an MFI >5000 showed a trend toward more antibody-mediated rejection (P < .06), though graft loss was not independently associated. Banff chronic allograft nephropathy scores and a modified chronic injury score were increased in the dnDSA cohort at 6 months, but not at 2 years (P < .001 and P < .08, respectively). Our data suggest that dnDSAs and pfDSAs impact short-term rejection rates but do not negatively impact graft survival or histopathological outcomes at 2 years. Periodic protocol post-transplant DSA monitoring may preemptively identify patients who develop dnDSAs who are at a higher risk for rejection.     

Alterations in Breast Cancer Biomarkers Following Neoadjuvant Therapy

Annals of Surgical Oncology - Biomarker changes in patients with residual disease (RD) after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAT) have unclear consequences. This study examined the prevalence of...