The use of an inexpensive red acetate filter to improve the sensitivity of GAFChromic dosimetry

The sensitivity of GAFChromic dosimetry using a conventional broad band light source densitometer has significantly been improved twofold using an inexpensive red acetate filter overlay during the densitometric measurements. This thin sheet of red acetate enhances the dosimetric analysis of radiochromic blue image distributions recorded on GAFChromic films. The combination provides higher sensitivity in the optical density measurements than the more expensive He-Ne laser-scanning densitometers.     

Grafted neural stem cells develop into functional pyramidal neurons and integrate into host cortical circuitry

In vitro expanded neural stemprogenitor cells can undergo region-specific differentiation after transplantation to the developing or adult brain, and display morphologies and markers characteristic of mature neurons. Here we have used patch-clamp techniques to explore whether grafted stem cells also can develop physiological properties of mature neurons and become functionally integrated within host neural circuitry. The immortalized neural progenitor cell line, RN33B, prelabeled with GFP by using a lentiviral vector, was transplanted into the cortex or hippocampus of neonatal rats. We found that the grafted GFP-positive cells differentiated into cells with morphological features of cortical or hippocampal pyramidal neurons, and that many of them had established appropriate cortico-thalamic and contralateral hippocampal connections, respectively, as revealed by retrograde tracing. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from grafted cells with morphological characteristics of pyramidal neurons showed that they were able to generate action potentials, and received functional excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs from neighboring cells. These data provide evidence that grafted neural progenitors can differentiate into morphologically mature pyramidal projection neurons, establish appropriate long-distance axonal projections, exhibit normal electrophysiological properties, and become functionally integrated into host cortical circuitry.     

Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infection and Nutritional Status Among Urban Slum Children in Kenya

To evaluate the nutritional impact of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of 205 pre-school (PSC) and 487 school-aged children (SAC) randomly selected from the surveillance registry of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the Kibera slum in Kenya. Hemoglobin, iron deficiency (ID), vitamin A deficiency (VAD), inflammation, malaria, anthropometry, and STH ova were measured. Poisson regression models evaluated associations between STH and malnutrition outcomes and controlled for confounders. Approximately 40% of PSC and SAC had STH infection, primarily Ascaris and Trichuris; 2.9% of PSC and 1.1% of SAC had high-intensity infection. Malnutrition prevalence among PSC and SAC was anemia (38.3% and 14.0%, respectively), ID (23.0% and 5.0%, respectively), VAD (16.9% and 4.5%, respectively), and stunting (29.7% and 16.9%, respectively). In multivariate analysis, STH in PSC was associated with VAD (prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.1–4.6) and ID (PR = 3.3, 95% confidence interval = 1.6–6.6) but not anemia or stunting. No associations were significant in SAC. Integrated deworming and micronutrient supplementation strategies should be evaluated in this population.     

Elimination of malaria in country Georgia

Malaria is well known in Georgia since ancient times, causing national disasters with associated significant mortality and economic losses. By 1970 Georgia managed to reach complete and sustained elimination of the disease as a result of comprehensive anti-malaria measures undertaken in the country. However from the mid-1990s, economic collapse following disintegration of Soviet Union causing breakdown of important public health networks including anti-malaria preventive and control infrastructure resulted in gradual increase of malaria cases in the country with a peak of 437 and 474 cases in 2001 and 2002, respectively. From 2000 two major anti-malaria efforts were carried out by National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, WHO and Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and as result of comprehensive and collaborative work in 2010 the level of zero cases of local mosquito-borne malaria transmission was achieved and the country entered the elimination phase.     

A novel t(2;3)(p11;q27) in a case of follicular lymphoma

Rearrangement of the BCL6 gene is found in follicular lymphomas and in diffuse large B cell lymphomas of follicular center cell origin. The breakpoints cluster mainly in a region spanning the first noncoding exon of the gene (the major breakpoint region). A second breakpoint cluster has also been identified upstream of the first BCL6 noncoding exon (the alternative breakpoint region [ABR]). To date, eight different rearrangements involving the ABR have been reported. Here, we describe a novel rearrangement involving a t(2;3)(p11;q27) translocation that affects the ABR in an unusual combination with the IGK locus.