Corynebacterium kutscheri infection of skin and soft tissue following rat bite

Corynebacterium kutscheri is a common bacterium isolated from the oral cavity of healthy mice and rats. We report the first well-documented case of C. kutscheri human infection which followed a rat bite. The microorganism was identified by conventional biochemical tests and confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis.     

Autonomic control network active in Aplysia during locomotion includes neurons that express splice variants of R15-neuropeptides

Splice-variant products of the R15 neuropeptide gene are differentially expressed within the CNS of Aplysia. The goal of this study was to test whether the neurons in the abdominal ganglion that express the peptides encoded by this gene are part of a common circuit. Expression of R15 peptides had been demonstrated previously in neuron R15. Using a combination of immunocytochemical and analytical methods, this study demonstrated that R15 peptides are also expressed in heart exciter neuron RB(HE), the two L9(G) gill motoneurons, and L40--a newly identified interneuron. Mass spectrometric profiling of individual neurons that exhibit R15 peptide-like immunoreactivity confirmed the mutually exclusive expression of two splice-variant forms of R15 peptides in different neurons. The L9(G) cells were found to co-express pedal peptide in addition to the R15 peptides. The R15 peptide-expressing neurons examined here were shown to be part of an autonomic control circuit that is active during fictive locomotion. Activity in this circuit contributes to implementing a central command that may help to coordinate autonomic activity with escape locomotion. Chronic extracellular nerve recording was used to determine the activity patterns of a subset of neurons of this circuit in vivo. These results demonstrate the potential utility of using shared patterns of neuropeptide expression as a guide for neural circuit identification.     

Translation efficiency of EBNA1 encoded by lymphocryptoviruses influences endogenous presentation of CD8+ T cell epitopes

Lymphocryptoviruses (LCV) that infect humans and Old World primates display a significant degree of genetic identity. These viruses use B lymphocytes as primary host cells to establish a long-term latent infection and express highly homologous latent viral proteins. Of particular interest is the expression of the EBV-encoded nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA1), which plays a crucial role in maintaining the viral genome in B cells. Using human and Old World primate homologues of EBNA1, we show that the internal repeat sequences differentially influence their in vitro translation efficiency. Although the glycine-alanine repeat domain of human LCV (EBV) EBNA1 inhibits its self-synthesis, the repeat domains within the simian LCV homologues of EBNA1 do not inhibit self-synthesis. As a consequence, simian LCV EBNA1-expressing cells are more efficiently recognized by virus-specific CTL when compared to human EBV EBNA1, even though both proteins are highly stable in B cells. Interestingly, we also show that similar to human EBNA1, CD8+ T cell epitopes from simian LCV EBNA1 are predominantly derived from newly synthesized protein rather than the long-lived pool of stable protein. These observations provide additional evidence that supports the theory that immune recognition of EBNA1 can occur without compromising the biological maintenance function of this protein.     

Demonstration of In Vitro Host-Guest Complex Formation and Safety of para-Sulfonatocalix[8]arene as a Delivery Vehicle for Two Antibiotic Drugs

The macrocycle para-sulfonatocalix[8]arene, sCX[8], was examined with 2 antibiotic drugs, ciprofloxacin (CIP) and isoniazid. The drugs were shown to form complexes with sCX[8] using proton nuclear magnetic resonance, thermogravimetric analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and molecular modeling. Both drugs form 1:1 hydrated (H₂O: 13%-14% w/w) host-guest complexes, with sCX[8] binding around the pyridine ring of isoniazid, and around the piperazine and cyclopropane rings of CIP. From proton nuclear magnetic resonance, the binding constant of isoniazid to sCX[8] was 6.8 (±0.3) × 10³ M^?1. Addition of 2 equivalents of sCX[8] to CIP resulted in a 58% decrease in fluorescence, and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy of CIP doubles with sCX[8]. Each drug binds into the cavity of the macrocycle, with binding stabilized via combinations of hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, π-π stacking, and hydrophobic effects. The safety of sCX[8] was examined in vitro with human embryonic kidney 293 cells. The IC₅₀ of sCX[8] was 559 μM, which is a minimum of 5-fold higher than the concentration that would be used in the clinic. The in vitro effect of sCX[8] on the action of CIP was examined on a panel of bacterial lines. The results showed that sCX[8] has no inherent antibiotic activity and had no negative effect on the action of CIP.     

Employment and Other Income Sources Among Homeless Youth

Homeless youth report high rates of unemployment. While homeless serving agencies usually offer employment services, most homeless youth are disengaged from homeless service agencies, and a limited number of studies have examined employment and other income sources among service disconnected youth. Our study examined income sources and change in income among service disconnected youth, all of whom received Strengths-Based Outreach and Advocacy (SBOA, N?=?79). Findings revealed that over time employment and legal income from non-survival behaviors increased (e.g., governmental assistance and receiving income from friends and relatives), while income from survival behaviors decreased (e.g., prostitution, stealing, selling possessions, selling blood or plasma). Although unemployment among these youth remained high (62%), income from survival behaviors reduced most drastically. Findings also suggest that employment is linked to housing stability and mental health, as is substance use and income, which suggests that mental health, housing, and substance use treatment services are important components in income stabilization for homeless youth.     

Quantitative study of new bone formation in distraction osteogenesis of craniofacial bones by bone scintigraphy

Although distraction osteogenesis is widely accepted as a technique to augment the craniofacial skeleton, timing to start distraction after an osteotomy or to remove distractors is basically based on studies on long bones. Because bone scintigraphy is well known to be the gold standard for quantitative measurement of bone formation, we conducted this pilot study to evaluate its feasibility as a tool for assessing new bone formation by distraction osteogenesis. Five patients with midface hypoplasia and four with mandibular hypoplasia were studied. Each patient had five bone scans: before surgery, 3 and 30 days after stopping distraction, and 3 days before and 3 months after distractor removal. Radiotracer uptake values at distraction sites were measured at 1 and 3 hours. Each uptake value was compared with preoperative study as uptake ratio. A typical pattern of radiotracer uptake ratio was observed in all cases with successful distraction. Uptake rose to the maximum during the consolidation period and remained at or above the preoperative level until the study end point. In one patient who had mandibular distraction and nonunion of the right ramus, there was no uptake peak during early consolidation as seen in the successfully distracted body and in the other cases. Bone scintigraphy was found to be a useful investigation in craniofacial distraction. It showed the dynamic of new bone formation by demonstrating the osteoblastic activity, which is important objective information for determining distraction rate and consolidation duration in each case. It may also be a tool that can predict the outcome of distraction osteogenesis.     

Influence of translation efficiency of homologous viral proteins on the endogenous presentation of CD8+ T cell epitopes

A significant proportion of endogenously processed CD8(+) T cell epitopes are derived from newly synthesized proteins and rapidly degrading polypeptides (RDPs). It has been hypothesized that the generation of rapidly degrading polypeptides and CD8(+) T cell epitopes from these RDP precursors may be influenced by the efficiency of protein translation. Here we address this hypothesis by using the Epstein-Barr virus-encoded nuclear antigen 1 protein (EBNA1), with or without its internal glycine-alanine repeat sequence (EBNA1 and EBNA1DeltaGA, respectively), which display distinct differences in translation efficiency. We demonstrate that RDPs constitute a significant proportion of newly synthesized EBNA1 and EBNA1DeltaGA and that the levels of RDPs produced by each of these proteins directly correlate with the translation efficiency of either EBNA1 or EBNA1DeltaGA. As a consequence, a higher number of major histocompatibility complex-peptide complexes can be detected on the surface of cells expressing EBNA1DeltaGA, and these cells are more efficiently recognized by virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes compared to the full-length EBNA1. More importantly, we also demonstrate that the endogenous processing of these CD8(+) T cell epitopes is predominantly determined by the rate at which the RDPs are generated rather than the intracellular turnover of these proteins.     

“I think I could have designed it better,but I didn’t think that it was my place”: a critical review of home modification practices from the perspectives of health and of design

Abstract

Purpose: The research presented demonstrates the disharmony between end user goals and their consideration in service outcomes within ageing-in-place and asks “what can design offer health” within this domain.

Methods: Data was collected using semi-structured interviews with various stakeholders within the context of ageing in place. All data are thematically analysed through a theoretical lens of control theory.

Results: The results demonstrate a contrast between purported patient-centred care models, and a human-centred design model. This contrast in cultures causes a disconnect between the health practitioners and the end users, with a lack of clarity about the end user's intended engagement within the modification of their environment. Consequently, the goals of older adults are inadequately represented as typical home modification design processes often fail to support the reflection of goals in practice, in turn, restricting client engagement and control. Reviewing occupational therapy practices through the critical lens of control has highlighted opportunities for service improvements.

Conclusion: The consideration of co-design methodologies within home modification design is a way to reinforce client engagement and provide better pathways for older adults to remain in control and raise acceptability of modification through a better-informed decision-making process.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• The following points detail the implications of this research upon the rehabilitation practice and theory:

• Compliance with recommendations is deeply connected to a person’s intrinsic sense of control within the clinical decision-making process.

• Co-design practices between practitioners and clients provide and novel pathway to achieve truly person-centred care and create better service experiences and clinical outcomes.

• The human-centred design methodology is highly applicable within clinical practice and provides an opportunity for clinicians to see and learn about their patients through a holistic lens centred around goals and motivations rather than physical impairments.

• The scoping of health literacy should be inclusive of all service artefacts and touchpoints that a client may encounter throughout the entire duration of experience, this includes design artefacts such as architectural drawings and other home modification designs.