First evidence of Kunjin strain of West Nile virus associated with saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) skin lesions

Recently, the Kunjin strain of West Nile virus (WNV_KUN ) has been detected using qRT-PCR in belly skin lesions of farmed juvenile saltwater crocodiles. This follows an established association between similar lesions and West Nile virus in American alligators. The lesions present as cutaneous lymphohistiocytic aggregates in the dermal layers of both species. While these lesion do not create an obvious defect on the live crocodile, upon tanning the lesion area collapses and does not uptake the dye evenly, thus reducing its aesthetic appeal. As a result, skins are being rejected jeopardising the economic viability of the Australian crocodile industry. Over 50 skin lesions have since been confirmed as WNV_KUN -positive and preliminary evidence of lesion restructuring is presented. Horizontal transmission of WNV_KUN by mosquitoes is well-established but other transmission routes, such as ingestion and cloacal shedding, need further evaluation. An infection trial is currently underway to ensure WNV_KUN is the causative agent of these skin lesions.

Leadership capabilities of physiotherapy leaders in Ireland: Part 2. Clinical specialists and advanced physiotherapy practitioners

Background: Investigation of the leadership capabilities of physiotherapy managers found that they report predominantly demonstrating capabilities associated with the human resource and structural frames. However, little is known about the leadership capabilities of clinical specialists and advanced physiotherapy practitioners (APPs) who also are identified as having responsibility for leadership. Objective: To explore clinical specialists´ and APPs' perceptions of their leadership capabilities and compare them with the reported leadership capabilities of physiotherapy managers. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 17 physiotherapy clinical specialists and APPs from a range of practice settings across Ireland. The interviews were analyzed using template analysis and the coding template was based on the Bolman and Deal Leadership framework. Results: The participants described demonstrating leadership capabilities associated with each of the four leadership frames. However, the language used by the clinical specialists/APPs suggested that they work predominantly through the human resource frame. Structural frame capabilities were reported by the clinical specialists/APPs and there were some differences to those reported by the managers. In keeping with the reported leadership capabilities of the physiotherapy managers, the employment of capabilities associated with the political frame varied between participants and symbolic frame capabilities were underused. Conclusion: There are many similarities in the self-reported leadership capabilities of managers and clinical specialists/APPs. However, differences were also noted. Both cohorts of physiotherapy leaders may benefit from specific development programs to develop leadership capabilities associated with the political and symbolic frames.

Post-viraemic detection of bovine ephemeral fever virus by use of autogenous lymphoid tissue-derived bovine primary cell cultures

BACKGROUND

The potential tissue replication sites and specific cell types that support in vivo virus survival beyond the acute phase of bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) infection have not been fully defined in cattle. To clarify the knowledge gap, tissue specimens were tested after collection from an adult steer necropsied 1 week after acute BEF.

CASE REPORT

Significant necropsy findings included fibrinoproliferative synovitis in the stifle joints and fibrin clot-laden fluid in serous body cavities. Moderate numbers of infiltrating neutrophils were demonstrated in sections of the prefemoral lymph nodes and haemal node, and lymphoid hyperplasia in the spleen, haemal node and prefemoral lymph nodes. Viral RNA was detected by qRT-PCR in fresh spleen, haemal node, prefemoral lymph node, synovial fluid and in several spleen-derived cell cultures. BEFV was isolated from autogenously derived splenic primary cell cultures 6 days after cessation of viraemia, and characteristic bullet-shaped virions were confirmed by electron microscopy of an ultrathin haemal node section. In sections of the spleen, haemal node and other tissues, immunohistochemistry demonstrated BEFV antigens that were intracellularly associated with probable histiocytic cells.

CONCLUSION

BEFV has preferential tropism for bovine lymphoid tissues and the spleen and haemal node may be potential sites for post-viraemic virus replication.

Viral neurotropism, peripheral neuropathy and other morphological abnormalities in bovine ephemeral fever virus-infected downer cattle

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the neurotropism of bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) virus (BEFV) and described histomorphological abnormalities of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves that may causally contribute to paresis or paralysis in BEF.

METHODS

Four paralysed and six asymptomatic but virus-infected cattle were monitored, and blood and serum samples screened by qRT-PCR, virus isolation and neutralisation tests. Fresh brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve and other tissues were qRT-PCR-tested for viral RNA, while formalin-fixed specimens were processed routinely and immunohistochemically evaluated for histomorphological abnormalities and viral antigen distribution, respectively.

RESULTS

The neurotropism of BEFV was immunohistochemically confirmed in the brain and peripheral nerves and peripheral neuropathy was demonstrated in three paralysed but not the six aneurological but virus-infected animals. Wallerian degeneration (WD) was present in the ventral funicular white matter of the lumbar spinal cord of a paralysed steer and in cervical and thoracic spinal cord segments of three paralysed animals. Although no spinal cord lesions were seen in the steer euthanased within 7 days of illness, peripheral neuropathy was present and more severe in nerves of the brachial plexuses than in the gluteal or fibular nerves. The only steer with WD in the lumbar spinal cord also showed intrahistiocytic cell viral antigen that was spatially distributed within areas of moderate brain stem encephalitis.

CONCLUSION

The data confirmed neurotropism of BEFV in cattle and documented histomorphological abnormalities in peripheral nerves and brain which, together with spinal cord lesions, may contribute to chronic paralysis in BEFV-infected downer cattle.

Visual preference for social stimuli in individuals with autism or neurodevelopmental disorders: an eye-tracking study

BACKGROUND

Recent research has identified differences in relative attention to competing social versus non-social video stimuli in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Whether attentional allocation is influenced by the potential threat of stimuli has yet to be investigated. This is manipulated in the current study by the extent to which the stimuli are moving towards or moving past the viewer. Furthermore, little is known about whether such differences exist across other neurodevelopmental disorders. This study aims to determine if adolescents with ASD demonstrate differences in attentional allocation to competing pairs of social and non-social video stimuli, where the actor or object either moves towards or moves past the viewer, in comparison to individuals without ASD, and to determine if individuals with three genetic syndromes associated with differing social phenotypes demonstrate differences in attentional allocation to the same stimuli.

METHODS

In study 1, adolescents with ASD and control participants were presented with social and non-social video stimuli in two formats (moving towards or moving past the viewer) whilst their eye movements were recorded. This paradigm was then employed with groups of individuals with fragile X, Cornelia de Lange, and Rubinstein-Taybi syndromes who were matched with one another on chronological age, global adaptive behaviour, and verbal adaptive behaviour (study 2).

RESULTS

Adolescents with ASD demonstrated reduced looking-time to social versus non-social videos only when stimuli were moving towards them. Individuals in the three genetic syndrome groups showed similar looking-time but differences in fixation latency for social stimuli moving towards them. Across both studies, we observed within- and between-group differences in attention to social stimuli that were moving towards versus moving past the viewer.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, these results provide strong evidence to suggest differential visual attention to competing social versus non-social video stimuli in populations with clinically relevant, genetically mediated differences in socio-behavioural phenotypes.

Gagné's theory of instruction--its relevance to nurse education

This paper examines Gagné's theory of instruction and its relevance to nurse education. The critique covers the use of objectives, the design of an educational unit and skills analysis. The authors argue that nurse educators should consider Gagné's theory during the education process, despite the fact that it may not be directly applicable in its entirety. The subject matter was studied following the educational psychology unit during the second year of the Bachelor of Nursing Studies degree course.

Determinants of increased risk for recurrence in patients undergoing radical hysterectomy for stage IB and IIA carcinoma of the cervix

From 1939 to 1977, 431 patients underwent radical hysterectomy as primary therapy for Stage IB or IIA carcinoma of the cervix at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Only 11 patients were lost to follow-up at intervals of from 1 to 94 months. Assessment of gross and histologic extent of disease was correlated with the prevalence of nodal metastases and survival. Increasing tumor size, depth of invasion, and histologic grade were covariable and predictive of both lymph node metastases and recurrence. After stratifying for nodal metastases, adenocarcinoma cell type, the size of the primary tumor, depth of invasion into the cervix, and histologic grade were associated with decreased survival. For the 85 patients with documented recurrence of their carcinoma, the time to recurrence varied inversely with primary tumor size. Of 56 patients with documented recurrence and negative nodes at the time of their initial therapy, 10 patients (18%) were ultimately salvaged. None of the 29 patients with recurrent carcinoma and positive nodes at the time of their initial lymphadenectomy was successfully treated. Analysis of prognostic factors identifies a group of patients at high risk for recurrence and decreased survival for whom prospective trials of adjunctive treatment should be considered.

Effect of a pneumatic breathing aid on the minute ventilation of patients with chronic obstructive lung disease and bronchial asthma

A pneumatic breathing aid is described in which air pressure is used to compress the thorax and abdomen of patients with bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease. Pressures of 40 to 44 mm Hg were applied during the latter half of expiration. A mean decrease in minute ventilation of 14% was recorded 10 minutes after thoracic-abdominal compression in 18 tests. The mean decrease in expiratory volume was 218 in 10 cases. The use of this new pneumatic breathing aid is a preliminary report with the suggestion that similar studies be utilized to increase the ventilatory function of patients who present suggestive evidence of air trapping and alveolar over-distention.