Preliminary Associations among Relational Victimization,Targeted Rejection,and Suicidality in Adolescents: A Prospective Study

This study examined associations between multiple types of interpersonal and noninterpersonal stressors and the subsequent occurrence of suicide ideation and attempts among female adolescents. Adolescents ages 12 to 18 years old (n = 160) at elevated risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors were followed for 18 months, divided into two 9-month epochs for data analysis (Periods 1 and 2). Exposure to acute relational victimization, targeted rejection, nonspecified interpersonal, and noninterpersonal life stressors over the first 9-month epoch (Period 1) was assessed using semistructured interviews and an independent life stress rating team. Participants also completed phone-based semistructured interviews of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Preliminary analyses showed significant prospective associations between acute targeted rejection and nonspecified interpersonal stress during Period 1 and suicide ideation during Period 2, as well as relational victimization and noninterpersonal stress during Period 1 and suicide attempts during Period 2. However, in logistic regression analyses that adjusted for prior suicidality and depressive symptoms, relational victimization during Period 1 (but not targeted rejection, nonspecified interpersonal or noninterpersonal events) was associated with increased odds of suicide attempt during Period 2. Therefore, acute relational victimization exposure is associated with heightened risk for suicidal behaviors in female adolescents. Future studies should examine potential mediators and moderators of this association, and these stressors should be considered for inclusion in clinical screening tools.     

Tspan8 is expressed in breast cancer and regulates E-cadherin/catenin signalling and metastasis accompanied by increased circulating extracellular vesicles

Tspan8 exhibits a functional role in many cancer types including pancreatic, colorectal, oesophagus carcinoma, and melanoma. We present a first study on the expression and function of Tspan8 in breast cancer. Tspan8 protein was present in the majority of human primary breast cancer lesions and metastases in the brain, bone, lung, and liver. In a syngeneic rat breast cancer model, Tspan8⁺ tumours formed multiple liver and spleen metastases, while Tspan8⁻ tumours exhibited a significantly diminished ability to metastasise, indicating a role of Tspan8 in metastases. Addressing the underlying molecular mechanisms, we discovered that Tspan8 can mediate up-regulation of E-cadherin and down-regulation of Twist, p120-catenin, and β-catenin target genes accompanied by the change of cell phenotype, resembling the mesenchymal–epithelial transition. Furthermore, Tspan8⁺ cells exhibited enhanced cell–cell adhesion, diminished motility, and decreased sensitivity to irradiation. As a regulator of the content and function of extracellular vesicles (EVs), Tspan8 mediated a several-fold increase in EV number in cell culture and the circulation of tumour-bearing animals. We observed increased protein levels of E-cadherin and p120-catenin in these EVs; furthermore, Tspan8 and p120-catenin were co-immunoprecipitated, indicating that they may interact with each other. Altogether, our findings show the presence of Tspan8 in breast cancer primary lesion and metastases and indicate its role as a regulator of cell behaviour and EV release in breast cancer. © 2019 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.     

Screening for enteroviral meningitis in infants and children—Is it useful in clinical practice?

Enteroviral meningitis in infants and children commonly leads to hospital admission. Diagnosing viral meningitis can be difficult clinically. We examined the usefulness of enteroviral polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples on clinical practice by comparing positive enteroviral CSF PCR cases (n = 39/136) to negative controls using both clinical outcomes and laboratory parameters. A positive result correlated with a reduced admission to high dependency unit, reduced the duration of antibiotics and a shorter length of stay (P < .05). Adjusted CSF white cell count > 5/μL correlated with positive PCR (P < .05) but would have missed 32% of cases of enteroviral meningitis. Following these findings, an algorithm for the management of suspected viral meningitis has been introduced.     

Host specificity of avian metapneumoviruses

To date, four subgroups of avian metapneumoviruses have been defined (AMPV-A, B, C and D) based on genetic and antigenic differences. The extent of infection in the three principal species (turkeys, chickens and ducks) by these subgroups is, however, not well defined. Here, a series of controlled and ethically approved experimental infections were performed in specific pathogen-free turkeys, chickens and ducks with each of the four AMPV subgroups. For subgroup C, one strain isolated from turkeys in the USA (turkey AMPV-C) and one isolated from ducks in France (duck AMPV-C) were compared. Globally, these extensive experimental trials demonstrated that AMPV-A, B, turkey C and D were well adapted to Galliformes, especially turkeys; however, chickens showed limited clinical signs and differences in seroconversion and transmission. Notably, chickens did not transmit AMPV-A to contacts and were shown for the first time to be susceptible to AMPV-D. The duck AMPV-C was well adapted to ducks; however, chickens and turkeys seroconverted and were positive by virus isolation. In addition, seroconversion of contact turkeys to duck AMPV-C demonstrated horizontal transmission of this virus in a non-palmiped species under our experimental conditions. Interestingly, in chickens and turkeys, duck AMPV-C isolation was possible despite a lack of detection of viral RNA. Likewise, the turkey AMPV-C virus was well adapted to turkeys yet was also isolated from chickens despite a lack of detection of viral RNA. These results would suggest a selection for viral genetic sequences that differ from the original strain upon adaptation to a ‘non-conventional host’.     

Inventory of molecular markers affecting biological characteristics of avian influenza A viruses

Virus Genes - Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) circulate globally, spilling over into domestic poultry and causing zoonotic infections in humans. Fortunately, AIVs are not yet capable of causing...