Experimental reproduction of an Enterococcus cecorum infection in Pekin ducks

Enterococcus cecorum (EC) was thus far only known as a pathogen for broilers and broiler breeders. Recently there was evidence of EC field outbreaks in Pekin duck flocks in Germany. In this study we experimentally reproduced an EC infection in Pekin ducks. At 12 days post hatch, groups of Pekin ducks were infected orally, via the thoracic air sac or intravenously with 1.5 × 10⁹ colony-forming units (CFU) of EC per bird or via the air sac with 8.5 × 10⁵ or 8.5 × 10⁷ CFU per bird. Ducks of the intravenously infected group showed 100% mortality after 2 days post infection. The air sac inoculated high-dose group exhibited a mortality rate of 67%. Birds that were infected with 8.5 × 10⁵ and 8.5 × 10⁷ CFU showed 6.7% mortality after 7 days post infection. Dead birds displayed pneumonia, airsacculitis, pericarditis and splenitis and EC was re-isolated from these organs. Surviving birds of all groups apart from the orally infected ducks demonstrated clinical signs such as huddling, reduced mobility and diarrhoea. Furthermore, they showed gross pathological lesions including airsacculitis and splenitis and lower bodyweights than the control group at necropsy on days 7, 14 and 21 post infection. The present study clearly confirms that EC is pathogenic for Pekin ducks after experimental infection via the intravenous route or the respiratory tract. EC therefore has to be considered as an emerging avian pathogen not only in broilers but also in Pekin ducks.     

Methodenintegration in Beratung und Psychotherapie

The article in the journal “Zeitschrift für Psychodrama und Soziometrie” discusses the question as to how methods can be satisfactorily integrated in psychotherapy and counselling. The author shows how the process of integration takes place in a field of tension between continuous differentiation and integration. The view of integration presented contrasts with unreflected eclecticism. The attempt is also made to describe valid integrators that practitioners can employ to make fruitful use of new experiences and knowledge for their therapeutic interventions. A further perspective throws light on phenomena of the implicit knowledge acquired and utilized by practitioners in the course of their careers.     

Versorgungssituation von Kindern,Jugendlichen und Erwachsenen mit sexuellen Gewalterfahrungen in Deutschland

Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz - In Deutschland ist seit 2010 die Auseinandersetzung um sexuelle Gewalterfahrungen, auch über die umfangreichen...     

Predictability of IL-28B-polymorphism on protease-inhibitor-based triple-therapy in chronic HCV-genotype-1 patients: A meta-analysis

AIM: To investigate the predictability of interleukin-28 B single nucleotide polymorphism rs12979860 with respect to sustained virological response(SVR) in chronically hepatitis C virus(HCV) genotype-1 patients treated with a protease-inhibitor and pegylated interferon-α(Peg-INF-α) based triple-therapy. METHODS: We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library and Web of Knowledge for studies regarding the interleukin 28B(IL-28B)-genotype and protease-inhibitor based triple-therapy. Ten studies with 2707 patients were included into this meta-analysis. We used regression methods in order to investigate determinants of SVR.RESULTS: IL-28B-CC-genotype patients achieved higher SVR rates(odds 5.34, 95%CI: 3.81-7.49) than IL-28B-non-CC-genotype patients(1.88, 95%CI: 1.43-2.48) receiving triple-therapy. The line of therapy(treatment-nave or-experienced for Peg-INF-α) did not affect the predictive value of IL-28B(P = 0.1). IL-28BCC-genotype patients treated with protease inhibitorbased triple-therapy consisting of Boceprevir, Simeprevir, Telaprevir or Vaniprevir showed odds of 3.38, 14.66, 7.84 and 2.91, respectively. The odds for CC genotype patients treated with Faldaprevir cannot be quantified, as only a single study with a 100% SVR rate was available.CONCLUSION: IL-28B-SNP predicts the outcome for chronic HCV genotype-1 patients receiving protease inhibitor-based triple-therapy. The predictive value varies between the different protease inhibitors.     

Variations in the anatomy of the vertebral artery cervical loop segment - a potential predisposing factor for traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Fatal traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage (TBSAH) is a characteristic forensic pathological entity, the investigation of which requires special techniques. In Liverpool, post-mortem room angiography is undertaken, followed by complete removal of the vertebral arteries and histological examination. It has been observed that the arterial anatomy can be highly variable, particularly the length and course of the loop segments located between the C2 vertebra and the dura. In a number of cases of TBSAH the loop segments of torn vessels have appeared relatively short. Having observed this phenomenon subjectively in our case work, a radiological study was undertaken with the aim of quantifying vertebral artery loop anatomy variation in a ‘normal’ population. Multiphase post-mortem computed tomography angiography (MPMCTA) scans of 98 subjects were reviewed and the lengths of the different portions of the loop segments (foramen magnum to the upper border of C1, between C1 and C2, and the bony foramina themselves) of each vertebral artery were measured using semi-automated vessel analysis software. The measurements obtained provide objective evidence of marked anatomical variation, with some loop segments more than twice the length of others. These results are important because a short vertebral artery loop segment might be a significant factor in predisposing an individual to TBSAH following a blow to the head or neck.     

The guanylate kinase domain of the beta-subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels suffices to modulate gating

Inactivation of voltage-gated calcium channels is crucial for the spatiotemporal coordination of calcium signals and prevention of toxic calcium buildup. Only one member of the highly conserved family of calcium channel β-subunits—Ca_Vβ—inhibits inactivation. This unique property has been attributed to short variable regions of the protein; however, here we report that this inhibition actually is conferred by a conserved guanylate kinase (GK) domain and, moreover, that this domain alone recapitulates Ca_Vβ-mediated modulation of channel activation. We expressed and refolded the GK domain of Ca_Vβ_2a, the unique variant that inhibits inactivation, and of Ca_Vβ_1b, an isoform that facilitates it. The refolded domains of both Ca_Vβ variants were found to inhibit inactivation of Ca_V2.3 channels expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. These findings suggest that the GK domain endows calcium channels with a brake restraining voltage-dependent inactivation, and thus facilitation of inactivation by full-length Ca_Vβ requires additional structural determinants to antagonize the GK effect. We found that Ca_Vβ can switch the inactivation phenotype conferred to Ca_V2.3 from slow to fast after posttranslational modifications during channel biogenesis. Our findings provide a framework within which to understand the modulation of inactivation and a new functional map of Ca_Vβ in which the GK domain regulates channel gating and the other conserved domain (Src homology 3) may couple calcium channels to other signaling pathways.