Status of oral rabies vaccination in wild carnivores in the United States

Persistence of multiple variants of rabies virus in wild Chiroptera and Carnivora presents a continuing challenge to medical, veterinary and wildlife management professionals. Oral rabies vaccination (ORV) targeting specific Carnivora species has emerged as an integral adjunct to conventional rabies control strategies to protect humans and domestic animals. ORV has been applied with progress toward eliminating rabies in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in western Europe and southern Ontario, Canada. More recently since 1995, coordinated ORV was implemented among eastern states in the U.S.A. to prevent spread of raccoon (Procyon lotor) rabies and to contain and eliminate variants of rabies virus in the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and coyote (Canis latrans) in Texas. In this paper, we describe the current cooperative ORV program in the U.S.A. and discuss the importance of coordination of surveillance and rabies control programs in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.A. Specifically, several priorities have been identified for these programs to succeed, which include additional oral vaccines, improved baits to reach target species, optimized ORV strategies, effective communication and legal strategies to limit translocation across ORV barriers, and access to sufficient long-term funding. These key priorities must be addressed to ensure that ORV has the optimal chance of achieving long range programmatic goals of eliminating specific variants of rabies virus in North American terrestrial carnivores.     

Diagnostic and public health dilemma of lactose-fermenting Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium in cattle in the Northeastern United States

The presence of lactose-fermenting Salmonella strains in clinical case materials presented to microbiology laboratories presents problems in detection and identification. Failure to detect these strains also presents a public health problem. The laboratory methods used in detecting lactose-fermenting Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium from six outbreaks of salmonellosis in veal calves are described. Each outbreak was caused by a multiply-resistant and lactose-fermenting strain of S. enterica serotype Typhimurium. The use of Levine eosin-methylene blue agar in combination with screening of suspect colonies for C8 esterase enzyme and inoculation of colonies into sulfide-indole-motility medium for hydrogen sulfide production was particularly effective for their detection. A hypothesis for the creation of lactose-fermenting salmonellae in the environment is presented. It is proposed that the environment and husbandry practices of veal-raising barns provide a unique niche in which lactose-fermenting salmonellae may arise.     

Molekulare Formen des prostataspezifischen Antigens und des humanen Kallikreins 2 als mögliche Indikatoren in der Prostatakarzinomdiagnostik

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the most useful marker in the early detection of prostate cancer and in the monitoring of patients with this diagnosis. Molecular forms of PSA and human kallikrein 2 (hK2) have been used to discriminate between benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer, as well as for the detection of prostate cancer within the gray zone of PSA. In this respect, a literature survey on the diagnostic validity of free PSA (fPSA) related to total PSA (tPSA), PSA bound to alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (ACT-PSA), and complexed PSA (cPSA) is given together with our own results. The ratio of fPSA/tPSA has been shown to improve both sensitivity and specificity of prostate cancer diagnosis based on tPSA measurements. The number of biopsies can be reduced in the total PSA range of 4-10 micrograms/l. Furthermore, carcinomas can be detected in patients with PSA values less than 4 micrograms/l. ACT-PSA or cPSA alone and the calculated derivatives are not superior in their discriminatory power compared with tPSA and the fPSA% value. The other molecular PSA forms and hK2 are still objects of research and their diagnostic significance needs to be evaluated in more extensive clinical trials.     

MAT2A Inhibition Blocks the Growth of MTAP-Deleted Cancer Cells by Reducing PRMT5-Dependent mRNA Splicing and Inducing DNA Damage

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Cellular resolution anatomical and molecular atlases for prenatal human brains

Increasing interest in studies of prenatal human brain development, particularly using new single-cell genomics and anatomical technologies to create cell atlases, creates a strong need for accurate and detailed anatomical reference atlases. In this study, we present two cellular-resolution digital anatomical atlases for prenatal human brain at postconceptional weeks (PCW) 15 and 21. Both atlases were annotated on sequential Nissl-stained sections covering brain-wide structures on the basis of combined analysis of cytoarchitecture, acetylcholinesterase staining, and an extensive marker gene expression dataset. This high information content dataset allowed reliable and accurate demarcation of developing cortical and subcortical structures and their subdivisions. Furthermore, using the anatomical atlases as a guide, spatial expression of 37 and 5 genes from the brains, respectively, at PCW 15 and 21 was annotated, illustrating reliable marker genes for many developing brain structures. Finally, the present study uncovered several novel developmental features, such as the lack of an outer subventricular zone in the hippocampal formation and entorhinal cortex, and the apparent extension of both cortical (excitatory) and subcortical (inhibitory) progenitors into the prenatal olfactory bulb. These comprehensive atlases provide useful tools for visualization, segmentation, targeting, imaging, and interpretation of brain structures of prenatal human brain, and for guiding and interpreting the next generation of cell census and connectome studies.     

Mikro-RNA in der Uroonkologie

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that regulate basic cellular processes and are associated with cancer characteristics. The aim of this review is to summarize the principles of miRNA biogenesis and function and to describe their contribution to tumor development, especially in uro-oncology. Therefore a PubMed search was conducted. Up to March 2009 approximately 4,500 miRNA-related articles were cited in this database. Studies of miRNA expression and functional analyses prove their impact in carcinogenesis and their potential as diagnostic or prognostic markers or as novel therapeutic targets. Only a few miRNA-related studies have been published in uro-oncology so far. Although tumor-specific miRNA expression has been shown for urological neoplasms, the contradicting data show that miRNA research is still in its infancy in this field. A systematic elucidation of characteristic miRNA abnormalities could decisively improve diagnostics as well as therapy of urological tumors.     

Proximale Femurfrakturen

In almost 98% of cases, proximal femoral fractures affect patients over the age of 60 years. The average patient age is approximately 80 years. Successful treatment requires evidence-based therapy concepts and standardized treatment pathways, enabling prompt treatment. The aim of surgical treatment must always be to achieve functional stability. Treatment starts as soon as the patient is transferred to the emergency room. In addition to painless positioning, analgesia and surgical preparation, existing comorbidities should be detected and optimized at this stage if necessary. On the basis of fracture morphology and the patient’s general condition the decision between a joint-sparing osteosynthesis and a hip joint replacement should be made. In addition to early full weight-bearing mobilization, postoperative inpatient care ideally includes complex geriatric therapy. Correctly assessing a patient’s rehabilitation potential is important for sustained treatment success. A variety of rehabilitation institutions from in-patient geriatric rehabilitation to ambulant therapy centers are available in Germany.     

Controlled biosynthesis of neoviridogriseins, new homologues of viridogrisein. I. Taxonomy and fermentation.

Neoviridogriseins, new homologues of viridogrisein, were produced with viridogrisein and griseoviridin by Streptomyces sp. P8648 which was identified as a strain of Streptomyces griseoviridus.