Polymorphic microsatellite loci for a neotropical leaf-litter frog (Craugastor bransfordii) characterized through Illumina sequencing

There are relatively few molecular resources for amphibians in the tropics where widespread habitat loss, disease, and contamination threaten the world’s most diverse assemblages. We used Illumina sequencing to develop microsatellite primers for a dominant amphibian species in Costa Rica that has recently experienced population declines. We characterized 12 polymorphic loci and have provided sequences for over 200 additional primers. These novel molecular resources will be useful for future studies of population genetic structure and may help explain recent declines in one of many species that are decreasing in Central America.     

Assessment of Respirable Crystalline Silica Analysis Using Proficiency Analytical Testing Results from 2003–2013

Analysis of Proficiency Analytical Testing (PAT) results between 2003 and 2013 suggest that the variation in respirable crystalline silica analysis is much smaller today than it was in the period 1990–1998, partly because of a change in sample production procedure and because the colorimetric method has been phased out, although quality improvements in the x-ray diffraction (XRD) or infrared (IR) methods may have also played a role. There is no practical difference between laboratories using XRD or IR methods or between laboratories which are accredited or those which are not. Reference laboratory means (assigned values) are not different from the means of all participants across the current range of mass loading, although there is a small difference in variance in the ratios of all participants to reference laboratory means based on method because the reference laboratories are much more likely to use XRD than are the others. Matrix interference does not lead to biases or substantially larger variances for either XRD or IR methods. Data from proficiency test sample analyses that include results from poorly performing laboratories should not be used to determine the validity of a method. PAT samples are not produced below 40 μg and variance may increase with lower masses, although this is not particularly predictable. PAT data from lower mass loadings will be required to evaluate analytical performance if exposure limits are lowered without change in sampling method. Task-specific exposure measurements for periods shorter than a full shift typically result in lower mass loadings and the quality of these analyses would also be better assured from being within the range of PAT mass loadings. High flow rate cyclones, whose performance has been validated, can be used to obtain higher mass loadings in environments of lower concentrations or where shorter sampling times are desired.     

Cervical and Vaginal Flora Specimens Are Highly Concordant with Respect to Bacterial Vaginosis-Associated Organisms and Commensal Lactobacillus Species in Women of Reproductive Age

Matched vaginal and cervical specimens from 96 subjects were analyzed by quantitative PCR for the presence and concentration of bacterial vaginosis-associated microbes and commensal Lactobacillus spp. Detection of these microbes was 92% concordant, indicating that microbial floras at these body sites are generally similar.     

Lateral Diffusion of Gαs in the Plasma Membrane Is Decreased after Chronic but not Acute Antidepressant Treatment: Role of Lipid Raft and Non-Raft Membrane Microdomains

GPCR signaling is modified both in major depressive disorder and by chronic antidepressant treatment. Endogenous Gα_s redistributes from raft- to nonraft-membrane fractions after chronic antidepressant treatment. Modification of G protein anchoring may participate in this process. Regulation of Gα_s signaling by antidepressants was studied using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) of GFP-Gα_s. Here we find that extended antidepressant treatment both increases the half-time of maximum recovery of GFP-Gα_s and decreases the extent of recovery. Furthermore, this effect parallels the movement of Gα_s out of lipid rafts as determined by cold detergent membrane extraction with respect to both dose and duration of drug treatment. This effect was observed for several classes of compounds with antidepressant activity, whereas closely related molecules lacking antidepressant activity (eg, R-citalopram) did not produce the effect. These results are consistent with previously observed antidepressant-induced translocation of Gα_s, but also suggest an alternate membrane attachment site for this G protein. Furthermore, FRAP analysis provides the possibility of a relatively high-throughput screening tool for compounds with putative antidepressant activity.     

The Role of Extensive Lymphadenectomy in Upper Tract Malignant Disease

Upper tract malignancies represent an estimated 5 %–10 % of urothelial cancers, with roughly 3,000 new cases per year in the United States. These tumors often present at an advanced stage, with invasion and lymph node metastases. There are no large randomized prospective studies demonstrating the benefit of lymph node dissection in upper tract urothelial cancer, and as such, definitive guidelines on the surgical template and timing are lacking. Laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgical techniques are well-established for nephroureterectomy, but are also emerging for retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. The treatment of these tumors still needs to be tailored based on patient and tumor characteristics. The purpose of our review is to update findings on the utility, techniques, and outcomes of lymphadenectomy for upper tract urothelial cancer.     

Too far away to work with each other: Does location impact on pharmacists’ perceptions of interprofessional interactions?

In recent years, the delivery of health services has seen a shift towards interprofessional teamwork in order to effectively utilise the skills of each member of the healthcare team to deliver optimal patient care. Nevertheless, a variety of barriers, including lack of communication between healthcare professionals (HCPs), have been identified. The expanding clinical services provided by community pharmacies have increased the potential for pharmacist-HCP interaction; however, primary care pharmacy environments vary from individual distinct premises to part of interprofessional ‘health centres’. As such, one potential factor affecting interprofessional communication could be the geographical location (‘space’) of HCPs. This study sought to determine whether these different primary healthcare ‘spaces’ impact on the frequency of interprofessional interactions. An anonymous, self-complete questionnaire was sent to all community pharmacies in Wales (n = 716) to quantify the frequency of interprofessional interactions between community pharmacists and other HCPs. A response rate of 62% was achieved. Results showed that pharmacists working in pharmacies physically linked to general practitioner (GP) surgeries had significantly more frequent interaction with HCPs based within the surgeries. This suggests that housing HCPs in the same physical space will enable more interprofessional interaction, supporting the drive to improve the quality of patient care.     

Pentraxin 3: an immune modulator of infection and useful marker for disease severity assessment in sepsis

The acute phase protein pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a pattern recognition receptor involved in regulation of the host immune response. This relatively newly discovered member of the pentraxin superfamily elicits both immunostimulatory and immunoregulatory functions preventing autoimmune pathology and orchestrated clearance of pathogens through opsonization of damage- and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (DAMP/PAMP). Thus, PTX3 has been described as a possible evolutionary precursor to immunoglobulins. While shown to provide protection against specific bacterial and fungal pathogens, persistent elevation of PTX3 levels following initial onset of infection appear to predict poor patient outcome and may contribute to disease sequelae such as tissue damage and coagulopathy. Measurement of PTX3 following onset of sepsis may improve patient risk assessment and thus be useful in guiding subsequent therapeutic interventions including steroidal anti-inflammatory and altered antibiotic therapies. In this review, we summarize the role of PTX3 in inflammatory syndromes and its utility as a marker of sepsis disease severity.     

The under-representation of minority ethnic groups in UK medical research

Objectives . The paper investigates differences in engagement with medical research between White British and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups in the UK, using data from the Wellcome Trust Monitor (WTM).

Design. The study used two waves of the WTM (n?=?2575) to examine associations between ethnic group and participation in medical research, and willingness to participate (WP) in medical research. Logistic regression models controlled for socio-economic and demographic factors, and relevant outlooks and experiences that are assumed to be markers of engagement.

Results. Respondents from the BAME group were less likely to have participated in medical research compared to those from the White British group, but there was only patchy evidence of small ethnic group differences in WP. Influences on engagement with medical research varied somewhat between the White British and BAME groups, in particular in relation to occupation, education, health, attitudes to medical science and belief.

Conclusions. These findings consolidate previously context-specific evidence of BAME group under-representation in the UK, and highlight heterogeneity in that group. Efforts to address the under-representation of those from BAME groups might benefit from targeted strategies for recruitment and advocacy, although improved data sets are required to fully understand ethnic differences in engagement with medical research.