Hair cells in the inner ear of the pirouette and shaker 2 mutant mice

The shaker 2 (sh2) and pirouette (pi) mouse mutants display severe inner ear dysfunction that involves both auditory and vestibular manifestation. Pathology of the stereocilia of hair cells has been found in both mutants. This study was designed to further our knowledge of the pathological characteristics of the inner ear sensory epithelia in both the sh2 and pi strains. Measurements of auditory brainstem responses indicated that both mutants were profoundly deaf. The morphological assays were specifically designed to characterize a pathological actin bundle that is found in both the inner hair cells and the vestibular hair cells in all five vestibular organs in these two mutants. Using light microscope analysis of phalloidin-stained specimens, these actin bundles could first be detected on postnatal day 3. As the cochleae matured, each inner hair cell and type I vestibular hair cell contained a bundle that spans from the region of the cuticular plate to the basal end of the cell, then extends along with cytoplasm and membrane, towards the basement membrane. Abnormal contact with the basement membrane was found in vestibular hair cells. Based on the shape of the cellular extension and the actin bundle that supports it, we propose to name these extensions cytocauds. The data suggest that the cytocauds in type I vestibular hair cells and inner hair cells are associated with a failure to differentiate and detach from the basement membrane.     

Chlamydial infections of the heart

Chlamydiae are common human pathogens, causing a broad spectrum of infectious diseases. Chlamydial infections involving the heart have been described in numerous previous reports. These organisms are documented to cause endocarditis, myocarditis and pericarditis. Furthermore,Chlamydia pneumoniae, the recently discovered respiratory pathogen, has also been implicated in coronary artery disease. For the first time the literature on involvement of the heart in chlamydial infections is reviewed. Information on the discovery ofChlamydia species is also included and the problem of the species determination ofChlamydia in interpretation of the older literature is mentioned.     

Endocrine contribution to the sexual dysfunction in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and the role of hyperprolactinemia

In this study, we investigated the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among males with advanced chronic kidney disease and the effect of treating hyperprolactinemia among these patients. In this prospective study, patients were assessed with history, physical examination, hormonal assessment, and two questionnaires, IIEF and AIPE. Patients with hyperprolactinemia received treatment with cabergoline 0.5 mg once per week for 6 months and were re-evaluated. A total of 102 patients were included in this study, 75 (73.53%) were on hemodialysis, 13 (12.75%) on peritoneal dialysis and 14 (13.73%) on medical treatment alone. Ninety (88.24%) patients had premature ejaculation, 85 (83.33%) had anything from mild-to-moderate-to-severe erectile dysfunction. The incidence of hypogonadism and hyperprolactinemia was 34.4%. Patients treated with cabergoline (n = 26) showed a significant increase in LH levels (p = .003) and a significant decrease in prolactin levels (p = .003). Testosterone levels and the incidence of erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation did not improve significantly. There is a high incidence of sexual dysfunction among patients. Treatment of hyperprolactinemia is effective in correcting prolactin levels, but does not improve erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation. Therefore, treating hyperprolactinemia is not an overall effective treatment for erectile dysfunction in these patients.     

Medicines and disease information needs of older Arabic‐speaking Australians

Aim: To explore access, satisfaction, awareness and needs for medicines and disease information (MADI) sources for older Arabic‐speaking Australians. Method: Five focus groups were conducted (in Arabic) with 29 participants with a chronic disease, aged over 65 years, and unable to speak or read English fluently. Discussions were audiotape recorded, simultaneously interpreted into English, transcribed verbatim and content analysed. Results: Arabic‐speaking general practitioners were identified as the main source of MADI, despite dissatisfaction with their counselling. Written Arabic MADI was not accessed by participants, who revealed low English and Arabic literacy levels and a reliance on family members to act as interpreters. Male participants were more concerned and active about their health and medicine information than female participants. Conclusions: This study highlighted limited availability and access to Arabic MADI for older Arabic‐speaking Australians, with reliance on Arabic‐speaking health‐care professionals for information and family members as interpreters. An accessible and sustainable system for MADI is required.     

Leptospirosis among zebu cattle in farms in Kaduna State,Nigeria

ObjectiveTo assess the occurrence of Leptospira spp serovar Hardjo among Zebu cattle in some livestock producing areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria.MethodsSera samples were obtained from 164 Zebu breed of cattle above one year osf age in seven cattle farms were screened for antibodies to Leptospira spp. serovar Hardjo using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsAntibodies to Leptospira spp. serovar Hardjo were detected in eighteen (10.98%) out of the 164 animals sampled. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in seropositivity between the different age groups or between different Zebu breeds.ConclusionThe presence of Leptospirosis among the Zebu breeds of cattle may poses a threat to livestock production and has public health implication due to its zoonotic potential.     

Level 1 neonatal nursing staff perceptions of their role: A qualitative Framework Analysis study investigating the complex and diverse workload undertaken by nurses in special care baby units

This study investigated Level 1 Special Care Bay Unit (SCBU) nurses’ perceptions of the skills required for their role. Eight nurses from a UK inner city Level 1 neonatal unit participated in qualitative interviews about their role. Analyses were based on data collected from semi -structured interviews supported by open -ended questions and use of a topic guide. The SRQR (Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research) checklist was used as a framework to support the qualitative analytical methods undertaken. Level 1 neonatal nurses reported use of a wide range of skills with a high level of parent – infant engagement. Analysis of the participant interviews revealed six themes: a) balancing nursing workload and demands; b) delivering nursing care in a Level 1 SCBU; c) managing clinical risk and emergencies; d) function and sustainability of a SCBU neonatal team; e) delivering family-centered care; and f) external perceptions of Level 1 nursing care. Work on a Level 1 unit consists of a broad range of skills, possibly greater in scope in comparison with skills used by neonatal nurses on Level 2 and Level 3 units. Further in - depth analysis of this role would be useful for the development of practice skills and for recruitment and retention.     

Problem pulmonary pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruinosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common and highly lethal agent of nosocomial pneumonia, especially among patients receiving mechanical ventilation. It is widespread in the environment and commonly recovered from water in nature and in hospital settings. P. aeruginosa is endowed with a formidable array of virulence factors that facilitate attachment to host cells, tissue invasion, and systemic disease. It is intrinsically resistant to many commonly used antibiotics due to a complex variety of mechanisms that we will briefly review. Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular biology of this organism have shed considerable light on its ability to form biofilms, which facilitate adherence especially in cystic fibrosis patients, and confer resistance to clearance by host immune mechanisms and antimicrobial killing. Treatment studies have demonstrated a significant risk of emergence of resistance during therapy with a variety of agents. Several studies suggest that two drugs are better than one for therapy of serious infections, although dual therapy does not always prevent emergence of resistant strains.     

Working memory and emotional interpretation bias in a sample of Syrian refugee adolescents

The number of adolescent refugees around the world has been continuously increasing over the past few years trying to escape war and terror, among other things. Such experience not only increases the risk for mental health problems including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but also may have implications for socio-cognitive development. This study tested cognitive-affective processing in refugee adolescents who had escaped armed conflict in Syria and now resided in Istanbul, Turkey. Adolescents were split into a high trauma (n = 31, 12 girls, mean age = 11.70 years, SD = 1.15 years) and low trauma (n = 27, 14 girls, mean age = 11.07 years, SD = 1.39 years) symptom group using median split, and performed a working memory task with emotional distraction to assess cognitive control and a surprise faces task to assess emotional interpretation bias. The results indicated that high (vs. low) trauma symptom youth were ~ 20% worse correctly remembering the spatial location of a cue, although both groups performed at very low levels. However, this finding was not modulated by emotion. In addition, although all youths also had a ~ 20% bias toward interpreting ambiguous (surprise) faces as more negative, the high (vs. low) symptom youth were faster when allocating such a face to the positive (vs. negative) emotion category. The findings suggest the impact of war-related trauma on cognitive-affective processes essential to healthy development.

     

Coronary artery disease among asymptomatic diabetic and nondiabetic patients undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the plaque composition in asymptomatic diabetic and nondiabetic patients undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). BACKGROUND: CAD is the major cause of death among patients with diabetes. The true prevalence of CAD in asymptomatic diabetic patients, however, remains unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 328 consecutive patients (each with at least one risk factor or abnormal stress-test results) were referred for cardiac evaluation, 42 with diabetes and 286 without diabetes, all asymptomatic for cardiac-related symptoms. Groups were matched for age, sex, and CAD risk factors. CAD was defined as coronary atherosclerosis, with obstructive or nonobstructive lesions. CCTA was performed and findings compared between patients with diabetes and those without. RESULTS: CAD was present in 39 (93%) diabetic patients and in 211 (73%) nondiabetic patients (P=0.006). Obstructive CAD was more common in diabetic patients than in nondiabetic patients (29 vs. 6.6%, respectively; P<0.0001). In diabetic patients, more coronary segments with atherosclerosis per patient were detected (5.5 segments/patient vs. 2.8 segments/patient in nondiabetics; P<0.0001). The total Agatston score was significantly higher in diabetic patients vs. nondiabetic patients (370+/-96 and 79.9+/-16, respectively; P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate a high prevalence (93%) of CAD in asymptomatic diabetic patients with either nonobstructive or obstructive lesions. CCTA may be a useful imaging modality for selecting patients at high risk who would benefit most from further evaluation for subclinical ischemia.