Sero-epidemiology of Bordetella pertussis in England and Wales

The incidence of pertussis infection can be estimated in the population by defining a single high titre of anti pertussis toxin (PT) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody predictive of recent infection. Sera samples collected in 1986, 1996 or annually between 1987 and 1998 were tested for anti-PT IgG antibody. In 1996, the age-adjusted prevalence of pertussis infection was 1.2% and was higher in children than in adults. Amongst samples collected annually, older age and female sex, but none of the temporal variables, were associated with a serologically defined pertussis infection. There is an important incidence of infection in the population, which is greater amongst children than adults, but there is only limited evidence of a correlation with epidemic cycles.     

Lymphatic drainage and CTV in breast cancer

Conformal radiotherapy has improved the technique and favored the solution of the problem of limiting cardiac and pulmonary irradiation. However new uncertainties have arisen especially with regard to treatment reproducibility. Passing from the clinical concept of CTV to the geometric concept of PTV, the anatomic identification of the different structure becomes of major importance together with the knowledge of the clinical evolution of breast cancer. The irradiation of breast lymph nodes now requires, if possible, 3D conformal processing of the treatment. Treatment parameters should be selected as to ensure adequate irradiation of target volumes while sparing healthy tissues as much as possible. In a near future, IMRT should be able to markedly improve the dose homogeneity to target with consequent lower cardiopulmonary toxicity.     

Clinical characteristics and genotype analysis of patients with cystic fibrosis and nasal polyposis

The prevalence of nasal polyps in a group of paediatric patients with cystic fibrosis was prospectively studied in comparison with a control group with cystic fibrosis but without polyps. Clinical variables, including pulmonary function tests, skin testing and mucociliary transport, were carried out in both groups, as well as genotype analysis. Endoscopic intranasal evaluation identified polyps in 29 of 89 patients (33%). Statistical analysis revealed that patients with nasal polyposis had better pulmonary function, a higher rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization, more hospitalizations, and more prevalence of allergy to Aspergillus fumigatus than did the comparison group. We found no statistically different genotype distribution between the polyposis and the control group. However, it can be emphasized that the prevalence of the compound heterozygous genotype is higher in the nasal polyposis group than in controls. Our observations suggest that other genetic and environmental factors could play an important role in the development of nasal polyposis.     

An antibody‐free strategy for screening putative HDM2 inhibitors using crude bacterial lysates expressing GST‐HDM2 recombinant protein

Targeting the interaction of p53 with its natural inhibitor MDM2 by the use of small synthetic molecules has emerged as a promising pharmacological approach to restore p53 oncosuppressor function in cancers retaining wild‐type p53. The first critical step in the experimental validation of newly synthesized small molecules developed to inhibit MDM2‐p53 interaction is represented by the evaluation of their efficacy in preventing the formation of the MDM2‐p53 complex. This can be achieved using the in vitro reconstructed recombinant MDM2‐p53 complex in cell‐free assays. A number of possible approaches have been proposed, which are however not suitable for screening large chemical libraries, due to the high costs of reagents and instrumentations, or the need of large amounts of highly pure recombinant proteins. Here we describe a rapid and cheap method for high‐throughput screening of putative inhibitors of MDM2‐p53 complex formation – based on the use of GST‐recombinant proteins – that does not require antibodies and recombinant protein purification steps from bacterial cell lysates. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparison of high-risk sexual behaviour and HIV testing amongst a bar-going sample of homosexual men in London and Edinburgh.

BACKGROUND: This study compared high-risk sexual and HIV testing behaviour amongst homosexual men recruited from gay bars in London and Edinburgh. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey monitoring high-risk sexual and HIV testing behaviour using a self-completed questionnaire was conducted in November and December 1996. RESULTS: Two thousand, three hundred and ninety-seven questionnaires were returned (1,366 recruited in London and 1,031 in Edinburgh), with a response rate of 77%. A larger proportion of men surveyed in London had had unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with one or more male partners in the previous year (35%) than in Edinburgh (30%). Men recruited in Edinburgh were less likely to have had an HIV test (54%) than men in London (63%). In both surveys, 25% of men who reported UAI with partners of the same HIV status as themselves also reported never having had an HIV test. CONCLUSIONS: The observed dissimilarities in the HIV epidemic in the two cities may be accounted for by the differences in self-reported high-risk sexual and HIV testing behaviours between the two populations. A large proportion of men in both cities continue to engage in high-risk sexual behaviour suggesting continued transmission of HIV in these populations. Thus, there is a continued need for innovative and relevant health promotion amongst homosexual men in the UK.     

Inhibition of jaw-closing muscle activity by tactile air-jet stimulation of peri- and intra-oral sites in man

There were two distinct periods of suppression in electromyograms of masseter and temporalis muscles in 8 subjects after light tactile stimulation (a puff of air) of the peri-oral zone; the latencies were 16 and 60 ms, respectively. These effects were similar to those induced by painful electrical stimulation. A single period of suppression with a latency of 50 ms, was evoked by tactile stimulation of the mucosa of the hard palate or of the tongue. Threshold for suppression was lower in mucosa than skin. Low-threshold and fast-adapting receptors are likely to be involved in this reflex inhibition.