IgG Against Dengue Virus in Healthy Blood Donors,Zanzibar, Tanzania

We conducted a seroprevalence survey among 500 healthy adult donors at Zanzibar National Blood Transfusion Services. Dengue virus IgG seroprevalence was 50.6% and independently associated with age and urban residence. These data will aid in building a surveillance, preparedness, and response plan for dengue virus infections in the Zanzibar Archipelago.Key words: dengue, seroprevalence, Zanzibar, viruses, vector-borne infections     

Are Copy Number Variants Associated With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis?

Background

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a complex genetic disorder that causes spinal deformity in approximately 3% of the population. Candidate gene, linkage, and genome-wide association studies have sought to identify genetic variation that predisposes individuals to AIS, but the genetic basis remains unclear. Copy number variants are associated with several isolated skeletal phenotypes, but their role in AIS, to our knowledge, has not been assessed.

Questions/Purposes

We determined the frequency of recurrent copy number rearrangements, chromosome aneuploidy, and rare copy number variants in patients with AIS.

Methods

Between January 2010 and August 2014, we evaluated 150 patients with isolated AIS and spinal curvatures measuring 10° or greater, and 148 agreed to participate. Genomic copy number analysis was performed on patients and 1079 control subjects using the Affymetrix^® Genome-wide Human SNP Array 6.0. After removing poor quality samples, 143 (97%) patients with AIS were evaluated for copy number variation.

Results

We identified a duplication of chromosome 1q21.1 in 2.1% (N = 3/143) of patients with AIS, which was enriched compared with 0.09% (N = 1/1079) of control subjects (p = 0.0057) and 0.07% (N = 6/8329) of a large published control cohort (p = 0.0004). Other notable findings include trisomy X, which was identified in 1.8% (N = 2/114) of female patients with AIS, and rearrangements of chromosome 15q11.2 and 16p11.2 that previously have been associated with spinal phenotypes. Finally, we report rare copy number variants that will be useful in future studies investigating candidate genes for AIS.

Conclusions

Copy number variation and chromosomal aneuploidy may contribute to the pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Clinical Relevance

Chromosomal microarray may reveal clinically useful abnormalities in some patients with AIS.     

Effects of yoga on cardiovascular disease risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The aim of this review was to systematically assess and meta-analyze the effects of yoga on modifiable biological cardiovascular disease risk factors in the general population and in high-risk disease groups.

Methods

MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and IndMED were screened through August 2013 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on yoga for predefined cardiovascular risk factors in healthy participants, non-diabetic participants with high risk for cardiovascular disease, or participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Results

Forty-four RCTs with a total of 3168 participants were included. Risk of bias was high or unclear for most RCTs. Relative to usual care or no intervention, yoga improved systolic (mean difference (MD) = − 5.85 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval (CI) = − 8.81, − 2.89) and diastolic blood pressure (MD = − 4.12 mm Hg; 95%CI = − 6.55, − 1.69), heart rate (MD = − 6.59 bpm; 95%CI = − 12.89, − 0.28), respiratory rate (MD = − 0.93 breaths/min; 95%CI = − 1.70, − 0.15), waist circumference (MD = − 1.95 cm; 95%CI = − 3.01, − 0.89), waist/hip ratio (MD = − 0.02; 95%CI = − 0.03, − 0.00), total cholesterol (MD = − 13.09 mg/dl; 95%CI = − 19.60, − 6.59), HDL (MD = 2.94 mg/dl; 95%CI = 0.57, 5.31), VLDL (MD = − 5.70 mg/dl; 95%CI = − 7.36, − 4.03), triglycerides (MD = − 20.97 mg/dl; 95%CI = − 28.61, − 13.32), HbA1c (MD = − 0.45%; 95%CI = − 0.87, − 0.02), and insulin resistance (MD = − 0.19; 95%CI = − 0.30, − 0.08). Relative to exercise, yoga improved HDL (MD = 3.70 mg/dl; 95%CI = 1.14, 6.26).

Conclusions

This meta-analysis revealed evidence for clinically important effects of yoga on most biological cardiovascular disease risk factors. Despite methodological drawbacks of the included studies, yoga can be considered as an ancillary intervention for the general population and for patients with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.     

Cystic fibrosis: An update for clinicians. Part 2: Hepatobiliary and pancreatic manifestations

This paper, the second in the series, will build on the first and explore the importance of liver and pancreatic manifestations of cystic fibrosis (CF) and the effect on morbidity and mortality of this multifaceted genetic condition. It will also further develop the critical role of the gastroenterologist as part of the multidisciplinary group of clinicians and allied health staff in the effective management of patients with CF.     

Signaling effects of α-thrombin and SFLLRN in rat glioma C6 cells

Effects of thrombin on brain cells, including change of neurite outgrowth and astrocyte shape, are described, but the molecular mechanisms are unclear. We investigated the effects of human α-thrombin and a six amino acid thrombin receptor activating peptide (TRAP-6, SFLLRN) on [Ca²⁺]₁, phosphoinositide hydrolysis, and protein kinase C in rat glioma C₆ cells. Stimulation of C₆ cells with both α-thrombin and TRAP-6 resulted in [Ca²⁺]₁ mobilization, [³H]Inositol phosphate response, and enhanced immunoreactivity of the protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes α, β, γ, δ, and ϵ. Results suggest that α-thrombin and TRAP-6 activate at least partially the same intracellular signaling pathways in rat glioma C₆ cells, which is evidence for involvement of “tethered ligand” receptor in thrombin induced signaling in glioma C₆ cells. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

ArF-excimer laser–induced secondary radiation in photoablation of biological tissue

Secondary radiation, emitted during and after the irradiation of corneal, dermal, and dental tissue by an ArF-excimer laser (193 nm), was qualitatively and quantitatively characterized. Emission of secondary radiation was found in the range of 200–800 nm. The intensity of secondary radiation in the range of 200–315 nm (UVC and UVB) is ∼20% of the total intensity at high laser fluences (>2 J/cm²), and ∼50% at moderate laser fluences (<500 mJ/cm²); 10 μJ/cm² in the UVC and UVB were measured at the sample surface, at fluences (<1J/cm²) which are of relevance for clinical procedures on soft tissues. In dental tissue processing, very high fluences (>5 J/cm²) are required. As a consequence, laser–induced plasma formation can be observed. Secondary radiation can be used as a visible guide for selective removal of carious altered tissue. The data we have found might be of assistance in estimating potential hazards for future mutagenic studies in the field. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The Role of Smoking in Breast Cancer Development: An Analysis of a Mayo Clinic Cohort

Abstract:  The purpose of this study was to assess the predictive value of smoking history on breast cancer diagnosis in a referral clinic population. We conducted a case–control study using clinical data collected on 8,097 female patients (1,225 breast cancer cases and 6,872 controls) seen in the Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic between August 1, 1993 and November 31, 2003. Breast cancer patients and noncancer patients significantly differed with respect to age at time of the index visit (p < 0.001), number of pregnancies (p = 0.006), number of live births (p = 0.002), vital status at last known follow-up (p < 0.001), current menstruation (p < 0.001), age at menopause (p < 0.001), history of hysterectomy (p < 0.001), use of oral contraception (p = 0.05), duration of oral contraception use (p = 0.001), use of other exogenous hormones (p < 0.001), duration of exogenous hormone use (p = 0.05), breast pain at time of index visit (p = 0.002), smoking status (p < 0.001), and use of five or more alcoholic beverages per week (p = 0.002). After adjustment for these baseline characteristics, having a personal history of smoking was found to be predictive of breast cancer diagnosis (odds ratios [OR] = 1.25, p = 0.004). Other positive predictors for breast cancer diagnosis were: age (OR = 1.02, p < 0.001), history of hysterectomy (OR = 0.66, p < 0.001), prior use of oral contraception for more than 11 years (OR = 2.10, p < 0.001), and prior use of other exogenous hormones/estrogen (OR = 1.81, p < 0.001). In this referral practice having a personal history of smoking is predictive of breast cancer diagnosis. Further studies are needed to further explore this relationship.     

Pharmacological evaluation of the stress-induced social avoidance model of anxiety

We have shown earlier that mild electric shocks induce a lasting social avoidance in male rats. Here we investigated whether shock-induced social avoidance can be developed into a laboratory model of stress-induced anxiety. The putative new model would assess sub-chronic, stress-induced anxiety (as opposed to tests based on natural fear) in a heterologous context (as opposed to classical fear conditioning). A single exposure to mild electric shocks induced a robust social avoidance that lasted more than 5 days. Low doses of chlordiazepoxide (0.5, 1 mg/kg), diazepam (0.5, 1, 5 mg/kg), buspirone (0.3, 1 mg/kg), and fluoxetine (1, 3, 5 mg/kg) abolished this effect, whereas the anxiogenic compound m-chlorophenylpiperazine (0.5-3 mg/kg) induced social avoidance in unshocked rats. These effects were produced at doses that did not affect locomotion in the open field. Haloperidol (0.05, 0.1, 1, 5 mg/kg) influenced social avoidance at sedative doses only. The sensitivity of the model to anxiolytic agents was compromised at high (sedating) doses. Taken conjointly, these data show that shock-induced social avoidance can be used to assess the anxiolytic potential of compounds. In addition to predictive validity, the model appears to show construct and face validity as well: stress is among the etiological factors of, whereas social avoidance simulates the social deficits seen in, a variety of anxiety disorders. The model may be used to study the effects of anxiolytics on sub-chronic states of stress-induced anxiety.