Evaluation of the protection elicited by direct and indirect exposure to live attenuated infectious laryngotracheitis virus vaccines against a recent challenge strain from the United States

In a recent study (Oldoni & García, 2007), some field strains of infectious laryngotracheitis viruses (ILTV) were characterized as genotypically different (group VI) from ILT vaccine strains. The objective of this study was to evaluate the protection elicited by one chicken embryo origin (CEO) and one tissue culture origin (TCO) vaccine against a field isolate from group VI after direct and indirect exposure to ILTV live attenuated vaccines. In phase 1 of the experiment, non-vaccinated chickens were placed into contact with the eye drop vaccinates for a period of four weeks after vaccination. Transmission of the vaccine virus to these in-contact birds was demonstrated by real time PCR and antibody production, although the in-contact birds did not become protected against disease when subsequently challenged in phase 2 of the experiment. This emphasized the importance of uniform vaccination to obtain adequate protection, both to avoid the occurrence of susceptible chickens, and to minimize the potential for reversion to virulence of live-attenuated vaccines. In phase 2, protection against challenge with a group VI field virus was assessed four weeks after vaccination by scoring clinical signs and mortality, and quantifying weight gain. Sentinel birds were added to the groups one day after challenge to assess shedding of challenge virus, using real time PCR and virus isolation, during the period 2 to 12 days post challenge. The results showed that the CEO and TCO eye drop-vaccinated chickens were protected against challenge with the group VI virus, even though it was genetically different from the vaccine strains, and that challenge virus was not transmitted from these protected birds to the sentinels.     

Our experience with diagnostics of congenital disorders of glycosylation

The aim of this study is to report our 3years experience with the screening of congenital disorders of glycosylation. A common isoelectric focusing method with immunofixation was used for analysis of serum transferrin and alpha1-antitrypsin, apart from several other procedures. A group of about 1000 individuals, both healthy controls and patients, mostly with signs of a metabolic disease were examined. Here we present an overview of (1) hypoglycosylation findings, (2) distribution of protein variants, (3) misguiding rare Tf variants found in our set, and (4) association of some phenotypes with various diseases.     

Genetics of mouse antibodies. II. Recombination between VH genes and allotype

The BAB/14 (BALB/c.C57BL/Ka-Ig-1^b/Hz) congenic mouse strain was found to respond to (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl (NP)-chicken globulin immunization with nonheteroclitic anti-NP antibodies as does the BALB/c inbred partner strain. This is in contrast to the heteroclitic anti-NP response of the C57BL/Ka allotype donor strain and indicates that the allotype linked V_H-NP gene was inherited with the V_H-DEX gene from BALB/c rather than with the allotype genes from C57BL/Ka. This verifies the interpretation of BAB/14 as an immunoglobulin gene recombinant. Two recombinants between V_H-DEX and Ig-1 allotype genes have been found among 554 chromosomes tested yielding a recombination frequency of 0.4%. Analysis of the BAB/14 recombinant showed that this crossover occurred between V_H genes implying that V_H genes and C_H genes are not organized in separate clusters separated by a large spacer region but are contiguous. Analysis of the recombination frequencies indicates that the total number of V_H genes must be at least 50.     

Predominant pathogenic role of tumor necrosis factor in experimental colitis in mice

Antibodies to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α have been recently proposed as effective treatment for patients with Crohn's disease. Here, we analyze the functional role of TNF-α in a mouse model of chronic intestinal inflammation induced by the hapten reagent 2,4,6,-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) that mimics some characteristics of Crohn's disease in humans. Macrophage-enriched lamina propria (LP) mononuclear cells from mice with TNBS-induced colitis produced 10–30-fold higher levels of TNF-α mRNA and protein than cells from control mice. When mice with chronic colitis were treated by intraperitoneal injection of antibodies to TNF-α, an improvement of both the clinical and histopathologic signs of disease was found. Isolated macrophage-enriched LP cells from anti-TNF-α-treated mice produced strikingly less pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 in cell culture. The predominant role of TNF-α in the mouse TNBS-induced colitis model was further underlined by the finding that striking colonic inflammation and lethal pancolitis was induced in TNF-α-transgenic mice upon TNBS treatment. Conversely, no significant TNBS-induced colitis could be induced in mice in which the TNF-α gene had been inactivated by homologous recombination. Complementation of TNF-α function in TNF^?/? mice by the expression of a mouse TNF-α transgene was sufficient to reverse this effect. Taken together, the data provide direct evidence for a predominant role of TNF-α in a mouse model of chronic intestinal inflammation and encourage further clinical trials with antibodies to TNF-α for the treatment of patients with Crohn's disease.     

Pharmacological and clinical effects of buspirone

Clinical trials have demonstrated that buspirone (BuSpar) is effective in the treatment of anxiety with efficacy and dosage comparable to diazepam or chlorazepate. Buspirone has a unique structure and a pharmacologic profile which distinguishes it from the benzodiazepines. Because it lacks the anticonvulsant, sedative, and muscle-relaxant properties associated with other anxiolytics, buspirone has been termed "anxioselective." Animal studies suggest that it lacks potential for abuse, and this finding is supported by clinical investigations. Further preclinical work supports the contention that buspirone lacks liability to produce physical dependence or to significantly interact with central nervous system depressants such as ethanol. Moreover, biochemical investigations have not identified any direct interaction of buspirone with the benzodiazepine-gamma-aminobutyric acid-chloride ionophore complex. Pharmacologic studies on the molecular level indicate that buspirone interacts with dopamine and serotonin receptors. Recent behavioral, electrophysiological, and biochemical studies have clearly demonstrated that early hypotheses that buspirone might be considered a neuroleptic are no longer tenable. Recent evidence indicates that other neurotransmitter systems (serotonin, norepinephrine, acetylcholine) mediate buspirone's effects. It is hoped that future studies can define the mechanism by which buspirone alleviates the clinical manifestations of anxiety.     

Phase Transformation after Heat Treatment of Cr-Ni Stainless Steel Powder for 3D Printing

Today, Ni-Cr steel is used for advanced applications in the high-temperature and electrical industries, medical equipment, food industry, agriculture and is applied in food and beverage packaging and kitchenware, automotive or mesh. A study of input steel powder from various stages of the recycling process intended for 3D printing was conducted. In addition to the precise evaluation of the morphology, particle size and composition of the powders used for laser 3D printing, special testing and evaluation of the heat-treated powders were carried out. Heat treatment up to 950 °C in an air atmosphere revealed the properties of powders that can appear during laser sintering. The powders in the oxidizing atmosphere change the phase composition and the original FeNiCr stainless steel changes to a two-phase system of Fe₃Ni and Cr₂O₃, as evaluated by X-ray diffraction analysis. Observation of the morphology showed the separation of the oxidic phase in the sense of a brittle shell. The inner part of the powder particle is a porous compact core. The particle size is generally reduced due to the peeling of the oxide shell. This effect can be critical to 3D printing processing, causing defects on the printed parts, as well as reducing the usability of the precursor powder and can also change the properties of the printed part.     

Reevaluating the role of antidepressants in cancer-related depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

Prior reviews evaluating the role of antidepressants in cancer-related depression have drawn conflicting conclusions. These reviews have also not explored differences in efficacy and tolerability between antidepressants. We conducted a meta-analysis to address these limitations.

Method

We searched Medline (1948–2013), the Cochrane Library (1800–2013), the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (1986–2013), ClinicalTrials.gov (2013) and meeting abstracts. We included randomized trials comparing antidepressants to placebo or no treatment for cancer-related depression. We used random effects to calculate standardized mean differences (SMD).

Results

Of 5178 potentially eligible citations, 9 trials (1169 subjects) met inclusion criteria. Trials of mianserin found a robust reduction in depression scores at ≥ 4 weeks of treatment (SMD: 0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.24–0.95). Similar, but less robust, results were observed with paroxetine (SMD: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.01–0.42) and fluoxetine (SMD 0.34, 95% CI: 0.02–0.66). Conversely, there was no advantage with amitriptyline or desipramine. Compared to placebo, the odds of dropping out due to side effect were higher with fluoxetine and paroxetine and lower with mianserin. Methodological quality was moderate.

Conclusions

Paroxetine, fluoxetine and mianserin improve cancer-related depression but may vary in efficacy and tolerability. High-quality, randomized trials of newer antidepressant agents are needed to identify optimal treatments for managing cancer-related depression.     

The usefulness of serum troponin levels in evaluating cardiac injury

The diagnosis and clinical significance of blunt cardiac injury remains controversial. Cardiac troponin I is not found in skeletal muscle and has a high sensitivity for myocardial ischemia or injury. We hypothesized that normal troponin levels 4 to 6 hours postinjury would effectively exclude the diagnosis of cardiac contusion. A prospective evaluation of all blunt trauma patients older than 16 and admitted with the possible diagnosis of blunt cardiac injury was undertaken. Patients in whom this diagnosis was considered had an electrocardiogram (EKG) on admission, serum troponin, CPK and isoenzymes 4 to 6 hours postinjury, and admission with overnight telemetry. Other laboratory data and radiographic imaging was obtained as indicated. Seventy-two patients met criteria for entry into the study. Data was incomplete or inaccurately obtained on six patients, and they were excluded. Forty patients had normal troponins and normal EKG's on admission and were discharged the following day without any untoward effect. Sixteen patients were admitted with abnormal EKGs. All of these 16 patients had normal troponins 4 to 6 hours after their injury. They all did well and were discharged the following day. Ten patients had elevated troponins 4 to 6 hours after injury. One died two days later from refractory cardiogenic shock. Another was noted to have severely depressed left ventricular function by echocardiography. The other eight patients sustained no cardiac sequelae and were discharged once recovered from injuries. In the hemodynamically stable patient a normal troponin 4 to 6 hours after injury excludes clinically significant blunt cardiac injury. This holds true whether the admission EKG is normal or not. An elevated troponin does not definitively diagnose a clinically significant contusion. However, these patients should be monitored at least for 24 hours. Patients suspicious for cardiac contusions who have normal troponins and no other serious injuries may be safely discharged to go home from the emergency department.