Experimental infection of camels with bluetongue virus

Three camels aged 4-5 years were experimentally infected with Bluetongue virus serotype 1 (BTV-1) and were observed for 75 days. No clinical signs of disease were observed throughout the experiment, however all three animals seroconverted and developed BTV-1 specific neutralising antibodies after challenge. All three camels developed a viraemia from 7 days post infection albeit at a lower level than that usually observed in experimental infections of sheep and cattle. Virus was isolated from the blood of all three animals suggesting that camels may act as a reservoir for BTV and play an important role in its transmission.

A reference database for the Stratec XCT-2000 peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) scanner in healthy children and young adults aged 6-19 years

SUMMARY

We have produced paediatric reference data for forearm sites using the Stratec XCT-2000 peripheral quantitative computed tomography scanner. These data are intended for clinical and research use and will assist in the interpretation of bone mineral density and bone geometric parameters at the distal and mid-shaft radius in children and young adults aged between 6-19 years.

INTRODUCTION

Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) provides measurements of bone mineral content (BMC), density (BMD) and bone geometry. There is a lack of reference data available for the interpretation of pQCT measurements in children and young adults. The aim of this study was to provide reference data at the distal and mid-shaft radius.

METHODS

pQCT was used to measure the 4% and 50% sites of the non-dominant radius in a cohort of healthy white Caucasian children and young adults aged between 5 and 25 years. The lambda, mu, sigma (LMS) technique was used to produce gender-specific reference centile curves and LMS tables for calculating individual standard deviations scores.

RESULTS

The study population consisted of 629 participants (380 males). Reference centile curves were produced; total and trabecular BMD for age (distal radius) and for age and height, bone area (distal and mid-shaft radius), cortical area, cortical thickness, BMC, axial moment of inertia, stress-strain index and muscle area (mid-shaft radius).

CONCLUSIONS

We present gender-specific databases for the assessment of the distal and mid-shaft radius by pQCT. These data can be used as control data for research studies and allow the clinical interpretation of pQCT measurements in children and young adults by age and height.

Ror2, a developmentally regulated kinase, promotes tumor growth potential in renal cell carcinoma

Inappropriate kinase expression and subsequent promiscuous activity defines the transformation of many solid tumors including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Thus, the expression of novel tumor-associated kinases has the potential to dramatically shape tumor cell behavior. Further, identifying tumor-associated kinases can lend insight into patterns of tumor growth and characteristics. Here, we report the identification of the RTK-like orphan receptor 2 (Ror2), a new tumor-associated kinase in RCC cell lines and primary tumors. Ror2 is an orphan receptor tyrosine kinase with physiological expression normally seen in the embryonic kidney. However, in RCC, Ror2 expression correlated with expression of genes involved at the extracellular matrix, including Twist and matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP2). Expression of MMP2 in RCC cells was suppressed by Ror2 knockdown, placing Ror2 as a mediator of MMP2 regulation in RCC and a potential regulator of extracellular matrix remodeling. The suppression of Ror2 not only inhibited cell migration, but also inhibited anchorage-independent growth in soft agar and growth in an orthotopic xenograft model. These findings suggest a novel pathway of tumor-promoting activity by Ror2 within a subset of renal carcinomas, with significant implications for unraveling the tumorigenesis of RCC.

A survey on diagnosis and treatment of vulvodynia among vulvodynia researchers and members of the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease

OBJECTIVE

To survey members of the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease and authors of recent related medical publications for whom e-mail addresses were available to assess current opinion and practices.

STUDY DESIGN

In a cross-sectional online survey of potential participants, characteristics of respondents and their preferred diagnostic criteria and treatment modalities for vulvodynia were assessed using univariate and multivariate methods.

RESULTS

Of recipients, 61.0% completed the survey. Of these, 86.7% were active in diagnosing or treating women with vulvodynia and 41.3% were currently active in vulvodynia research. Of respondents, > 80% include a history, a genital visual examination and vulvar pressure sensitivity testing in their evaluation of women with vulvar pain. Laboratory assessments were less likely to be rated essential or helpful. Of participants, > 80% rated as very effective or somewhat effective tricyclic antidepressants, pelvic floor physical therapy and psychologic counseling. Most indicated they have made the diagnosis of vulvodynia in conjunction with other vulvovaginal diagnoses and agreed that vulvodynia does remit for some women.

CONCLUSION

Despite many diagnostic and treatment options available, some consensus on diagnostic and treatment preferences for vulvodynia was identified. Further research to develop the evidence base for diagnostic and treatment decisions is needed.

Respiratory syncytial virus infection provokes airway remodelling in allergen-exposed mice in absence of prior allergen sensitization

BACKGROUND

The mechanisms underlying exacerbation of asthma induced by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection have been extensively studied in human and animal models. However, most of these studies focused on acute inflammation and little is known of its long-term consequences on remodelling of the airway tissue.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to use a murine model of prolonged allergen-induced airway inflammation to investigate the effect of RSV infection on allergic airway inflammation and tissue remodelling.

METHODS

We subjected mice to RSV infection before or during the chronic phase of airway challenges with OVA and compared parameters of airway inflammation and remodelling at the end-point of the prolonged allergen-induced airway inflammation protocol.

RESULTS

RSV infection did not affect the severity of airway inflammation in any of the groups studied. However, RSV infection provoked airway remodelling in non-sensitized, allergen-challenged mice that did not otherwise develop any of the features of allergic airways disease. Increased collagen synthesis in the lung and thickening of the bronchial basal membrane was observed in non-sensitized allergen-challenged mice only after prior RSV infection. In addition, fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 but not TGF-beta(1) was increased in this group following RSV infection.

CONCLUSION

Our data show for the first time that RSV infection can prime the lung of mice that are not previously systemically sensitized, to develop airway remodelling in response to allergen upon sole exposure via the airways. Moreover, our results implicate RSV-induced FGF-2 in the remodelling process in vivo.

Is the Sky 2? Contextual Priming in Grapheme-Color Synaesthesia

Grapheme-color synaesthesia is a neurological phenomenon in which particular graphemes, such as the numeral 9, automatically induce the simultaneous perception of a particular color, such as the color red. To test whether the concurrent color sensations in grapheme-color synaesthesia are treated as meaningful stimuli, we recorded event-related brain potentials as 8 synaesthetes and 8 matched control subjects read sentences such as “Looking very clear, the lake was the most beautiful hue of 7.” In synaesthetes, but not control subjects, congruous graphemes, compared with incongruous graphemes, elicited a more negative N1 component, a less positive P2 component, and a less negative N400 component. Thus, contextual congruity of synaesthetically induced colors altered the brain response to achromatic graphemes beginning 100 ms postonset, affecting pattern-recognition, perceptual, and meaning-integration processes. The results suggest that grapheme-color synaesthesia is automatic and perceptual in nature and also suggest that the connections between colors and numbers are bidirectional.

Desquamative inflammatory vaginitis: what is it?

OBJECTIVE

To record the inflammatory patterns found in desquamative inflammatory vaginitis and to investigate further the existence of an idiopathic subset of this condition.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective case note study of 11 women over a 12-month period who presented with symptoms of painful sexual intercourse and increased vaginal discharge.

RESULTS

Examination of the vulva was usually normal or showed mild erythema and a thin purulent discharge. Examination of the vaginal wall showed erythema consistent with inflammation. A biopsy from the vaginal wall showed essentially 2 patterns of inflammation: either a lichenoid or a nonspecific mixed inflammatory infiltrate. Therapy with clindamycin and clobetasone propionate was largely effective.

CONCLUSION

While this study does not fully answer the histology of desquamative inflammatory vaginitis, it does highlight the need for further study to identify whether there is an idiopathic subset of desquamative inflammatory vaginitis or whether it is erosive lichen planus.

Evaluation of COPD Longitudinally to Identify Predictive Surrogate End-points (ECLIPSE)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease and not well understood. The forced expiratory volume in one second is used for the diagnosis and staging of COPD, but there is wide acceptance that it is a crude measure and insensitive to change over shorter periods of time. Evaluation of COPD Longitudinally to Identify Predictive Surrogate End-points (ECLIPSE) is a 3-yr longitudinal study with four specific aims: 1) definition of clinically relevant COPD subtypes; 2) identification of parameters that predict disease progression in these subtypes; 3) examination of biomarkers that correlate with COPD subtypes and may predict disease progression; and 4) identification of novel genetic factors and/or biomarkers that both correlate with clinically relevant COPD subtypes and predict disease progression. ECLIPSE plans to recruit 2,180 COPD subjects in Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease categories II-IV and 343 smoking and 223 nonsmoking control subjects. Study procedures are to be performed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months thereafter. Assessments include pulmonary function measurements (spirometry, impulse oscillometry and plethysmography), chest computed tomography, biomarker measurement (in blood, sputum, urine and exhaled breath condensate), health outcomes, body impedance, resting oxygen saturation and 6-min walking distance. Evaluation of COPD Longitudinally to Identify Predictive Surrogate End-points is the largest study attempting to better describe the subtypes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as defining predictive markers of its progression.

Late presentation of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency

Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency is the commonest disorder of fatty acid metabolism, with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality at presentation. We report a 16 year old girl with first presentation of MCAD deficiency following an alcoholic binge and subsequent period of starvation. Presentation was as acute encephalopathy progressing to coma. Renal, cardiac and hepatic failures were managed with intensive supportive care including mechanical ventilation, inotropic support, blood products and renal replacement therapy. Diagnosis of MCAD deficiency was confirmed on day 6. The patient was discharged from hospital on day 20 with a mild proximal myopathy, which subsequently resolved. The diagnosis of MCAD deficiency requires a high index of suspicion at all ages. Precipitating factors in later life may include alcohol.

Development and assessment of conventional and targeted drug combinations for use in the treatment of aggressive breast cancers

Combination chemotherapy has been at the forefront of cancer treatment for over 40 years. However, the rationale for selecting drug combinations and the process used to demonstrate clinical effectiveness has primarily followed trial and error methodology. Typically, the selection and assessment of combined drug therapies has been based on the effectiveness of each agent as monotherapy in treating the neoplasm and avoiding overlapping toxicities, followed by clinical trials to establish dose scheduling, toxicity, and efficacy. Unfortunately, this scheme is inefficient in terms of the time required to complete and revise these clinical trials based on the outcome to optimize the drug combination. A more rational approach for the development of combination oncology products should consider (i) in vitro assays for assessing therapeutic effects of drug combinations (antagonistic, additive or synergistic interactions) when added simultaneously; (ii) methods for measuring these interactions in vivo; (iii) the importance of understanding pharmacokinetic and biodistribution parameters when using drug combinations; (iv) the need to assess pathways known to contribute to cancer cell survival as well as metastasis; and (iv) the need to assess the fate of different cell populations (cancer and stroma) contributing to the development of cancer. Therefore, the goal of this article is to provide a road map for the preclinical development of drug combination products that will have improved therapeutic activity and a high likelihood of providing beneficial therapeutic outcomes in patients with aggressive cancers with a specific focus on patients with breast cancer.

ENGIN-X: a third-generation neutron strain scanner

ENGIN-X, a new time-of-flight (TOF) neutron diffractometer optimized to measure elastic strains at precise locations in bulky specimens recently commissioned at the ISIS Facility in the Rutherford Laboratory, UK, is described. Fast counting times, together with a flexible and accurate definition of the instrumental gauge volume are the main requirements of neutron strain scanning and have been addressed on ENGIN-X through the design of a novel TOF diffractometer with a tuneable resolution and interchangeable radial collimators. Further, the routine operation of the instrument has been optimized by creating a virtual instrument,i.e.a three-dimensional computer representation of the diffractometer and samples, which assists in the planning and execution of experiments. On comparing ENGIN-X with its predecessor ENGIN, a 25× gain in performance is found, which has allowed the determination of stresses up to 60 mm deep in steel specimens. For comparison with constant-wavelength diffractometers, special attention has been paid to the absolute number of counts recorded during the experiments. A simple expression is presented for the estimation of counting times in TOF neutron strain scanning experiments.