West Nile virus quantification in feces of experimentally infected American and fish crows.

To better understand the potential environmental health risk presented by West Nile virus (WNV)-contaminated feces, we quantified the amount of WNV present in the feces of experimentally infected American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and fish crows (Corvus ossifragus). Peak fecal titers ranged from 10(3.5) to 10(8.8) plaque-forming units (PFU)/g for 10 American crows and from 10(2.3) to 10(6.4) PFU/g for 10 fish crows. The presence of infectious WNV in bird feces indicates a potential for direct transmission of WNV. Thus, handlers of sick or dead birds should take appropriate precautions to avoid exposure to fecal material.     

Differential effects of Th1, monocyte/macrophage and Th2 cytokine mixtures on early gene expression for glial and neural-related molecules in central nervous system mixed glial cell cultures: neurotrophins, growth factors and structural proteins

Background  

In multiple sclerosis, inflammatory cells are found in both active and chronic lesions, and it is increasingly clear that cytokines are involved directly and indirectly in both formation and inhibition of lesions. We propose that cytokine mixtures typical of Th1 or Th2 lymphocytes, or monocyte/macrophages each induce unique molecular changes in glial cells.     

The inflammatory infiltrate in the acute stage of the dextran sulphate sodium induced colitis: B cell response differs depending on the percentage of DSS used to induce it

Background  

Experimental colitis with features similar to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has initially been described. A detailed analysis of inflammatory cells has not yet been described. Therefore in this study we characterized the cells involved in the acute phase of the colitis and compared those findings to what is known about human IBD.     

Plantar fibromatosis may adopt the brain gyriform pattern of a low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma

We report the case of a 42-year-old man with histologically proven plantar fibromatosis (Ledderhose disease) demonstrating an uncommon brain gyriform pattern at MRI, so far exclusively described in the low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS). An acoustic posterior enhancement at ultrasound, a high intensity on T2w and post-contrast T1wMR images were unusual and related to a high tumor cellularity at histology with no myxoid tissue. The juxtaposition of areas of high and low cellularity (with more fibrous material) in a multilobulated mass built a brain gyriform pattern at MR, similar to what was so far described exclusively in LGFMS. This case demonstrates that the brain gyriform pattern may also be observed in other soft tissue fibrous tumors with no myxoid material but with high cellularity areas alternating with fibrous zones of low cellularity.     

The effective dose of different scanning protocols using the Sirona GALILEOS? comfort CBCT scanner

Objectives:

To determine the effective dose and CT dose index (CTDI) for a range of imaging protocols using the Sirona GALILEOS^® Comfort CBCT scanner (Sirona Dental Systems GmbH, Bensheim, Germany).

Methods:

Calibrated optically stimulated luminescence dosemeters were placed at 26 sites in the head and neck of a modified RANDO^® phantom (The Phantom Laboratory, Greenwich, NY). Effective dose was calculated for 12 different scanning protocols. CTDI measurements were also performed to determine the dose–length product (DLP) and the ratio of effective dose to DLP for each scanning protocol.

Results:

The effective dose for a full maxillomandibular scan at 42 mAs was 102 ± 1 μSv and remained unchanged with varying contrast and resolution settings. This compares with 71 μSv for a maxillary scan and 76 μSv for a mandibular scan with identical milliampere-seconds (mAs) at high contrast and resolution settings.

Conclusions:

Changes to mAs and beam collimation have a significant influence on effective dose. Effective dose and DLP vary linearly with mAs. A collimated maxillary or mandibular scan decreases effective dose by approximately 29% and 24%, respectively, as compared with a full maxillomandibular scan. Changes to contrast and resolution settings have little influence on effective dose. This study provides data for setting individualized patient exposure protocols to minimize patient dose from ionizing radiation used for diagnostic or treatment planning tasks in dentistry.     

Targeted Sequencing of a Pediatric Metabolic Bone Gene Panel Using a Desktop Semiconductor Next-Generation Sequencer

Metabolic bone disorders in children frequently are heritable, but the expanding number of genes associated with these conditions makes it difficult to perform molecular diagnosis. In the present study, we therefore evaluated a semiconductor (SC)-based sequencing system for this purpose. A total of 65 DNA samples were analyzed comprising 24 samples from patients with 27 known pathogenic mutations, 6 samples from patients with prior negative Sanger sequencing, and 35 consecutive samples from patients with suspected heritable metabolic bone disorders who had not had prior molecular diagnosis. In the samples with known pathogenic mutations, 26 of 27 mutations were identified by SC sequencing. All single nucleotide variants were correctly identified, but a 7-nucleotide duplication in CYP27B1 was not detected. SC sequencing revealed two pathogenic mutations in the six samples where prior Sanger sequencing had failed to identify a mutation. Finally, pathogenic mutations were found in 27 samples of patients with unknown mutation status (15 in COL1A1, 9 in COL1A2, 1 in LEPRE1, 1 in LRP5, 1 in PHEX). Subsequent Sanger sequencing confirmed the mutations in all 27 samples. In conclusion, we found that SC sequencing is suitable for the diagnosis of heritable metabolic bone disorders in children.     

Predictors of agitation in nursing home residents

Agitation in nursing home residents presents a serious challenge to caregivers and may place residents at risk for harm. Understanding the etiology of agitation can assist clinicians in developing nonpharmacologic interventions for preventing and treating this problem. The purpose of this study was to examine independent and common predictors of resident agitation with structural equation modeling. Agitation was measured with both a standardized staff report rating scale and direct behavioral observation. No indirect or mediating effects were found. Cognitive impairment, vision and hearing impairment, and gender were found to be independent predictors of agitation as measured by direct behavioral observation. Only cognitive impairment was found to be predictive of agitation as measured by the standardized staff report scale. An unexpected finding was that vision impairment appeared to exert a protective effect for agitation in these severely cognitively impaired residents. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed as well as the relative merits of the two methods of measuring agitation.     

Mirror writing in a child

The authors analysed the causes of mirror writing and its evolution in a girl aged 7-9 years. Among the possible causes they consider changing lateralization of extremities, absence of evident predominance of a hemisphere, acquiring of this writing by exercise through imitation with the left hand of the writing movements performed by the right hand, and the possibility of microtrauma of the central nervous system. It is stressed that the mental development was normal and there were on features of developmental dyslexia.