Intra-specific variation withinEimeria tenella detected by the random amplification of polymorphic DNA

The random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD method), was used to derive fragments of DNA of the coccidial parasiteEimeria tenella for use both as genetic markers and as an aid for the discrimination of different wild-type and attenuated populations. Of 41 arbitrarily chosen 9-to 27-mer primers, 24 yielded useful arrays of fragments following low-stringency annealing conditions and the resultant profiles were generally very reproducible. One non-variant fragment of 2 kb hybridised to a single chromosome (number 12) and four variant fragments were identified. These results strongly suggest that the RAPD method may be an extremely useful tool for studies on various aspects of the genetic organisation of coccidial parasites.     

A genomic analysis of chicken cytokines and chemokines.

As most mechanisms of adaptive immunity evolved during the divergence of vertebrates, the immune systems of extant vertebrates represent different successful variations on the themes initiated in their earliest common ancestors. The genes involved in elaborating these mechanisms have been subject to exceptional selective pressures in an arms race with highly adaptable pathogens, resulting in highly divergent sequences of orthologous genes and the gain and loss of members of gene families as different species find different solutions to the challenge of infection. Consequently, it has been difficult to transfer to the chicken detailed knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of the mammalian immune system and, thus, to enhance the already significant contribution of chickens toward understanding the evolution of immunity. The availability of the chicken genome sequence provides the opportunity to resolve outstanding questions concerning which molecular components of the immune system are shared between mammals and birds and which represent their unique evolutionary solutions. We have integrated genome data with existing knowledge to make a new comparative census of members of cytokine and chemokine gene families, distinguishing the core set of molecules likely to be common to all higher vertebrates from those particular to these 300 million-year-old lineages. Some differences can be explained by the different architectures of the mammalian and avian immune systems. Chickens lack lymph nodes and also the genes for the lymphotoxins and lymphotoxin receptors. The lack of functional eosinophils correlates with the absence of the eotaxin genes and our previously reported observation that interleukin- 5 (IL-5) is a pseudogene. To summarize, in the chicken genome, we can identify the genes for 23 ILs, 8 type I interferons (IFNs), IFN-gamma, 1 colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), 2 of the 3 known transforming growth factors (TGFs), 24 chemokines (1 XCL, 14 CCL, 8 CXCL, and 1 CX3CL), and 10 tumor necrosis factor superfamily (TNFSF) members. Receptor genes present in the genome suggest the likely presence of 2 other ILs, 1 other CSF, and 2 other TNFSF members.     

Genetic and chromosomal alterations in Kenyan Wilms Tumor

Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common childhood kidney cancer worldwide and poses a cancer health disparity to black children of sub‐Saharan African ancestry. Although overall survival from WT at 5 years exceeds 90% in developed countries, this pediatric cancer is alarmingly lethal in sub‐Saharan Africa and specifically in Kenya (36% survival at 2 years). Although multiple barriers to adequate WT therapy contribute to this dismal outcome, we hypothesized that a uniquely aggressive and treatment‐resistant biology compromises survival further. To explore the biologic composition of Kenyan WT (KWT), we completed a next generation sequencing analysis targeting 10 WT‐associated genes and evaluated whole‐genome copy number variation. The study cohort was comprised of 44 KWT patients and their specimens. Fourteen children are confirmed dead at 2 years and 11 remain lost to follow‐up despite multiple tracing attempts. TP53 was mutated most commonly in 11 KWT specimens (25%), CTNNB1 in 10 (23%), MYCN in 8 (18%), AMER1 in 5 (11%), WT1 and TOP2A in 4 (9%), and IGF2 in 3 (7%). Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 17p, which covers TP53, was detected in 18% of specimens examined. Copy number gain at 1q, a poor prognostic indicator of WT biology in developed countries, was detected in 32% of KWT analyzed, and 89% of these children are deceased. Similarly, LOH at 11q was detected in 32% of KWT, and 80% of these patients are deceased. From this genomic analysis, KWT biology appears uniquely aggressive and treatment‐resistant. © 2015 The Authors. Genes, Chromosomes & Cancer Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Impact of a standardized patient simulation on undergraduate nursing student knowledge and perceived competency of the care of a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia

Background

Undergraduate nursing students may not have the opportunity to assess and intervene with a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia during their clinical rotation. Provision of a standardized patient simulation experience affords students this opportunity in a safe setting without risk to the patient or student.

The Neonatal Resuscitation Program: Current Recommendations and a Look at the Future

The Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) consists of an algorithm and curriculum to train healthcare professionals to facilitate newborn infants’ transition to extrauterine life and to provide a standardized approach to the care of infants who require more invasive support and resuscitation. This review discusses the most recent update of the NRP algorithm and recommended guidelines for the care of newly born infants. Current challenges in training and assessment as well as the importance of ergonomics in the optimization of human performance are discussed. Finally, it is recommended that in order to ensure high-performing resuscitation teams, members should be selected and retained based on objective performance criteria and frequent participation in realistic simulated clinical scenarios.     

Hip surveillance in Tasmanian children with cerebral palsy

Background:   Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are at risk of hip subluxation. Over time, subluxation can lead to dislocation, deformity and pain. Hip surveillance in the form of an X-ray and clinical examination of this 'at risk group' can identify early subluxation. Early subluxation can be treated, preventing hip dislocation in many cases. Hip surveillance in CP commenced in Tasmania in 1992.
Aims:   To audit the hip surveillance data to date, perform a literature review to understand the emerging evidence for prevention and management of hip subluxation in CP and update hip surveillance guidelines.
Methods:   New guidelines were written and distributed, and an audit of the previous 12 years performed by review of medical files and X-rays.
Results:   Two hundred and eighteen children had been involved in the hip surveillance programme. Fifteen cases of dislocation were recorded in this time. The incidence of subluxation and surgery, as well as the gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) level, was recorded.
Conclusion:   Data from Tasmania showed a similar incidence of hip subluxation according to GMFCS level, and frequency of different surgical interventions as other recent audits. Some children with minor subluxation improved without orthopaedic intervention once weight bearing occurred, which had not before been appreciated. Migration percentage alone is not adequate to fully describe the outcome of hip subluxation. More appropriate measures of outcome in terms of quality of life for children with CP need to be developed.     

Altered ATP-dependent mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake in cold ischemia is attenuated by ruthenium red

BACKGROUND: Graft dysfunction as a result of preservation injury remains a major clinical problem in liver transplantation. This is related in part to accumulation of mitochondrial calcium (Ca(2+)), which has been linked to activation of proapoptotic factors. We hypothesized that cold ischemia increases mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake in a concentration dependent fashion and that ruthenium red (RR) will attenuate these changes by inhibiting the mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter. METHODS: Rat livers perfused with cold University of Wisconsin (UW) solution (4 degrees C) with or without RR (10 microM) via the portal vein (n = 3 per group) were processed immediately (no ischemia) or after 24 h cold-storage (24 h cold ischemia). Mitochondria were separated by differential centrifugation, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent (45)Ca(2+) uptake was determined in the presence of ATP (5 mM), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), or adenosine 5'-beta,gamma-imidotriphosphate (AMP-PNP); variable concentrations of extramitochondrial (45)Ca(2+) were used. All measurements were performed in triplicate. Student's t test with P < 0.05 was taken as significant. RESULTS: Our data demonstrate the following: 1) ATP-dependent (45)Ca(2+) uptake in mitochondria separated from livers following 24 h of cold ischemia in UW alone was higher than in mitochondria isolated from non-ischemic livers; the increased uptake was dependent on the concentration of (45)Ca(2+) in the incubation buffer. 2) There was no difference in ATP-dependent (45)Ca(2+) uptake between nonischemic mitochondria and those separated from livers stored in UW-RR for 24 h. 3) (45)Ca(2+) uptake in mitochondria from livers subjected to 24 h of cold ischemia in UW-RR was significantly lower compared to those from livers stored in UW alone when (45)Ca(2+) concentrations were greater than 1 microM. CONCLUSION: 1) Cold ischemia affects mitochondrial Ca(2+) handling, especially when it is challenged by high extramitochondrial Ca(2+) concentrations. 2) The addition of RR in preservation solution attenuates the effects of cold ischemia on mitochondrial Ca(2+) handling. 3) Inhibition of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter with RR protects mitochondria from Ca(2+) overload at high Ca(2+) concentrations. These findings may offer a potentially effective strategy for prevention of ischemia-reperfusion injury in liver transplantation.