Potential screening assay for undetectable viruses on the basis of their capacity to induce alpha interferon production

High interferon production by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) was unexpectedly noted after their coculture with CD4(+) cells from a healthy donor whose cells subsequently showed human herpesvirus type 6 and 7 infections. This release of interferon was not observed with uninfected normal CD4(+) cells. Induction of PDC interferon production could help screen for covert virus infections.     

Anthropomorphic simulations of falls,shakes, and inflicted impacts in infants

OBJECT: Rotational loading conditions have been shown to produce subdural hemorrhage and diffuse axonal injury. No experimental data are available with which to compare the rotational response of the head of an infant during accidental and inflicted head injuries. The authors sought to compare rotational deceleration sustained by the head among free falls, from different heights onto different surfaces, with those sustained during shaking and inflicted impact. METHODS: An anthropomorphic surrogate of a 1.5-month-old human infant was constructed and used to simulate falls from 0.3 m (1 ft), 0.9 m (3 ft), and 1.5 m (5 ft), as well as vigorous shaking and inflicted head impact. During falls, the surrogate experienced occipital contact against a concrete surface, carpet pad, or foam mattress. For shakes, investigators repeatedly shook the surrogate in an anteroposterior plane; inflicted impact was defined as the terminal portion of a vigorous shake, in which the surrogate's occiput made contact with a rigid or padded surface. Rotational velocity was recorded directly and the maximum (peak-peak) change in angular velocity (delta theta(max)) and the peak angular acceleration (theta(max)) were calculated. Analysis of variance revealed significant increases in the delta theta(max) and theta(max) associated with falls onto harder surfaces and from higher heights. During inflicted impacts against rigid surfaces, the delta theta(max) and theta(max) were significantly greater than those measured under all other conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Vigorous shakes of this infant model produced rotational responses similar to those resulting from minor falls, but inflicted impacts produced responses that were significantly higher than even a 1.5-m fall onto concrete. Because larger accelerations are associated with an increasing likelihood of injury, the findings indicate that inflicted impacts against hard surfaces are more likely to be associated with inertial brain injuries than falls from a height less than 1.5 m or from shaking.     

The Use of Simvastatin for the Prevention of Gallstones in the Lithogenic Prairie Dog Model

Background: Surgery for morbid obesity is rapidly increasing. Patients undergoing bariatric surgery are prone to gallstone development during the rapid weight loss. These patients are often given medications such as ursodeoxycholic acid to prevent gallstone formation; however, these medications are often poorly tolerated by patients, who subsequently discontinue them. We performed a study in a lithogenic animal model to assess the effectiveness of a potential alternate medication for gallstone prevention. Methods: 20 male prairie dogs were randomly separated into 2 groups and fed a lithogenic diet for 28 days. The study group animals were given 2.5 mg of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor simvastatin. Total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured and an open cholecystectomy was performed on each animal at the conclusion of the study period. The gallbladder was visually inspected for gallstones and microscopic biliary cholesterol crystal formation. Results: There was a decrease of 36% in the total cholesterol of the study animals compared to controls. The animals treated with simvastatin showed gallstone formation in 5/10 (50%) of animals, compared with 6/10 (60%) of control animals. The study animals demonstrated microscopic cholesterol crystal formation in 80%, identical to the number found in the control animals. Conclusion: Despite a reduction in cholesterol, simvastatin prevented neither gallstone formation nor biliary cholesterol crystals in this animal model. Given the rapid increase in the number of bariatric surgical procedures coupled with the poor tolerance of ursodeoxycholic acid, viable alternatives should continue to be sought for these patients.     

Smokeless tobacco use among United States Air Force trainees

Background: The prevalence of smokeless tobacco use in the United States Air Force (USAF) exceeds civilian use rates. The prevalence and correlates of smokeless tobacco use were assessed and evaluated in a sample of USAF trainees. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of USAF technical training school personnel at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and Fort Sam Houston (N = 14,810). Survey completion rate was 78%. Logistic regression was used to analyze the associations between demographic variables, tobacco use, and social factors for both regular and infrequent smokeless tobacco (e.g., chewing tobacco, snuff) users. Results: Overall, 16% of Airmen had ever used smokeless tobacco and 10% regularly used smokeless tobacco. In multivariate analyses, men had greater odds than women of regular smokeless tobacco use (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 15.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.8–21.5) and infrequent smokeless tobacco use (adjusted OR = 4.2; 95% CI: 3.1–5.7). Smokeless tobacco use was associated with participation in high school sports (adjusted OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.6–2.3 for regular users; adjusted OR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1–1.7 for infrequent users), smoking cigarettes (adjusted OR = 4.3; 95% CI: 3.6–5.1 for regular users; adjusted OR = 4.0; 95% CI: 3.2–5.0 for infrequent users), or living with someone who used smokeless tobacco (adjusted OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.9–2.6 for regular users; adjusted OR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1–1.7 for infrequent users). Black or African Americans were less likely than whites to be regular (adjusted OR = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1–0.4) or infrequent (adjusted OR = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2–0.4) users of smokeless tobacco. Conclusions: Smokeless tobacco use among incoming Air Force recruits is common and negatively impacts the Air Force's goal to be tobacco-free. Understanding sociodemographic characteristics perpetuating smokeless tobacco use in the Air Force population can inform the development of health promotion interventions.     

Autoantibodies to vascular smooth muscle are pathogenic for vasculitis

We have previously shown that microvascular smooth muscle activates CD4+ T lymphocytes in sterile co-culture, presents antigen, and produces inflammatory cytokines. Adoptive transfer of lymphocytes co-cultured with syngeneic smooth muscle cells to healthy recipient mice results in vasculitic lesions predominantly in postcapillary venules. The present study assessed the pathogenic role of immunoglobulin and B cells in a murine model of vasculitis. Here, we show that transferred B cells, including plasmablast cells, accumulated, persisted, and proliferated in lung and secondary lymphoid organs of recipient mice. The induction of vasculitis was accompanied by production of IgM and IgG2a autoantibodies specific for vascular smooth muscle intracellular antigens. Circulating immunoglobulin had a pathogenic role in this vasculitis model, because the disease could be induced by transfer of serum from vasculitic mice to untreated animals but not by transfer of serum depleted of anti-smooth muscle autoantibodies. Additionally, the pathogenic mechanisms triggered by the transfer of vasculitogenic serum were dependent on T lymphocytes because both wild-type and B cell-deficient mice developed the disease after serum transfer, whereas RAG2-deficient mice did not. Thus, immunoglobulin and cell-mediated pathways work in concert to produce vasculitis in this model.     

The validity of proxy responses on patient-reported outcome measures: Are proxies a reliable alternative to stroke patients’ self-report?

Quality of Life Research - Caregivers, or proxies, often complete patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) on behalf of patients with stroke. The objective of our study was to assess the validity...     

The relationship between autism spectrum disorders and anxiety: The moderating effect of communication

Communication skills have been shown to have differing effects on levels of anxiety depending on whether or not a child has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or is typically developing. This article examined whether or not communication deficits differentially affect children with ASD compared to those without ASD. Ninety-nine children with autistic disorder (n = 33), Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS; n = 33), and no diagnosis (n = 33) were examined using the Autism Spectrum Disorders Diagnostic for Children and Comorbidity for Children scales to determine their level of anxiety and degree of communication deficits. Results indicated that anxiety decreased as communication deficits increased for those with autistic disorder compared to those with PDD-NOS or no diagnosis; however, for those with PDD-NOS anxiety increased as communication deficits increased compared to those with no diagnosis. The importance and differential impact of communication deficits on anxiety for different groups is highlighted.