Shortening the length of stay and mechanical ventilation time by using positive suggestions via MP3 players for ventilated patients

Long stay in intensive care unit (ICU) and prolonged ventilation are deleterious for subsequent quality of life and surcharge financial capacity. We have already demonstrated the beneficial effects of using suggestive communication on recovery time during intensive care. The aim of our present study was to prove the same effects with standardized positive suggestive message delivered by an MP3 player. Patients ventilated in ICU were randomized into a control group receiving standard ICU treatment and two groups with a standardized pre-recorded material delivered via headphones: a suggestive message about safety, self-control, and recovery for the study group and a relaxing music for the music group. Groups were similar in terms of age, gender, and mortality, but the SAPS II scores were higher in the study group than that in the controls (57.8 ± 23.6 vs. 30.1 ± 15.5 and 33.7 ± 17.4). Our post-hoc analysis results showed that the length of ICU stay (134.2 ± 73.3 vs. 314.2 ± 178.4 h) and the time spent on ventilator (85.2 ± 34.9 vs. 232.0 ± 165.6 h) were significantly shorter in the study group compared to the unified control. The advantage of the structured positive suggestive message was proven against both music and control groups

OGG1 Inhibition Reduces Acinar Cell Injury in a Mouse Model of Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal disease with a complex pathology including oxidative stress. Oxidative stress triggers oxidative DNA lesions such as formation of 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2′-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) and also causes DNA strand breaks. DNA breaks can activate the nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) which contributes to AP pathology. 8-oxoG is recognized by 8-oxoG glycosylase 1 (OGG1) resulting in the removal of 8-oxoG from DNA as an initial step of base excision repair. Since OGG1 also possesses a DNA nicking activity, OGG1 activation may also trigger PARP1 activation. In the present study we investigated the role played by OGG1 in AP. We found that the OGG1 inhibitor compound TH5487 reduced edema formation, inflammatory cell migration and necrosis in a cerulein-induced AP model in mice. Moreover, TH5487 caused 8-oxoG accumulation and reduced tissue poly(ADP-ribose) levels. Consistent with the indirect PARP inhibitory effect, TH5487 shifted necrotic cell death (LDH release and Sytox green uptake) towards apoptosis (caspase activity) in isolated pancreatic acinar cells. In the in vivo AP model, TH5487 treatment suppressed the expression of various cytokine and chemokine mRNAs such as those of TNF, IL-1β, IL1ra, IL6, IL16, IL23, CSF, CCL2, CCL4, CCL12, IL10 and TREM as measured with a cytokine array and verified by RT-qPCR. As a potential mechanism underlying the transcriptional inhibitory effect of the OGG1 inhibitor we showed that while 8-oxoG accumulation in the DNA facilitates NF-κB binding to its consensus sequence, when OGG1 is inhibited, target site occupancy of NF-κB is impaired. In summary, OGG1 inhibition provides protection from tissue injury in AP and these effects are likely due to interference with the PARP1 and NF-κB activation pathways

t2prhd: a tool to study the patterns of repeat evolution

BACKGROUND: The models developed to characterize the evolution of multigene families (such as the birth-and-death and the concerted models) have also been applied on the level of sequence repeats inside a gene/protein. Phylogenetic reconstruction is the method of choice to study the evolution of gene families and also sequence repeats in the light of these models. The characterization of the gene family evolution in view of the evolutionary models is done by the evaluation of the clustering of the sequences with the originating loci in mind. As the locus represents positional information, it is straightforward that in the case of the repeats the exact position in the sequence should be used, as the simple numbering according to repeat order can be misleading. RESULTS: We have developed a novel rapid visual approach to study repeat evolution, that takes into account the exact repeat position in a sequence. The "pairwise repeat homology diagram" visualizes sequence repeats detected by a profile HMM in a pair of sequences and highlights their homology relations inferred by a phylogenetic tree. The method is implemented in a Perl script (t2prhd) available for downloading at http://t2prhd.sourceforge.net and is also accessible as an online tool at http://t2prhd.brc.hu. The power of the method is demonstrated on the EGF-like and fibronectin-III-like (Fn-III) domain repeats of three selected mammalian Tenascin sequences. CONCLUSION: Although pairwise repeat homology diagrams do not carry all the information provided by the phylogenetic tree, they allow a rapid and intuitive assessment of repeat evolution. We believe, that t2prhd is a helpful tool with which to study the pattern of repeat evolution. This method can be particularly useful in cases of large datasets (such as large gene families), as the command line interface makes it possible to automate the generation of pairwise repeat homology diagrams with the aid of script

New dryocosmus giraud species associated with cyclobalanopsis and non-quercus host plants from the eastern palaearctic (hymenoptera, cynipidae, cynipini)

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The Replicase Gene of Avian Coronavirus Infectious Bronchitis Virus Is a Determinant of Pathogenicity

We have previously demonstrated that the replacement of the S gene from an avirulent strain (Beaudette) of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) with an S gene from a virulent strain (M41) resulted in a recombinant virus (BeauR-M41(S)) with the in vitro cell tropism of the virulent virus but that was still avirulent. In order to investigate whether any of the other structural or accessory genes played a role in pathogenicity we have now replaced these from the Beaudette strain with those from M41. The recombinant IBV was in effect a chimaeric virus with the replicase gene derived from Beaudette and the rest of the genome from M41. This demonstrated that it is possible to exchange a large region of the IBV genome, approximately 8.4 kb, using our transient dominant selection method. Recovery of a viable recombinant IBV also demonstrated that it is possible to interchange a complete replicase gene as we had in effect replaced the M41 replicase gene with the Beaudette derived gene. Analysis of the chimaeric virus showed that it was avirulent indicating that none of the structural or accessory genes derived from a virulent isolate of IBV were able to restore virulence and that therefore, the loss of virulence associated with the Beaudette strain resides in the replicase gene

Molecular characterization of a lizard adenovirus reveals the first atadenovirus with two fiber genes and the first adenovirus with either one short or three long fibers per penton

Although adenoviruses (AdVs) have been found in a wide variety of reptiles, including numerous squamate species, turtles, and crocodiles, the number of reptilian adenovirus isolates is still scarce. The only fully sequenced reptilian adenovirus, snake adenovirus 1 (SnAdV-1), belongs to the Atadenovirus genus. Recently, two new atadenoviruses were isolated from a captive Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) and Mexican beaded lizards (Heloderma horridum). Here we report the full genomic and proteomic characterization of the latter, designated lizard adenovirus 2 (LAdV-2). The double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genome of LAdV-2 is 32,965 bp long, with an average G+C content of 44.16%. The overall arrangement and gene content of the LAdV-2 genome were largely concordant with those in other atadenoviruses, except for four novel open reading frames (ORFs) at the right end of the genome. Phylogeny reconstructions and plesiomorphic traits shared with SnAdV-1 further supported the assignment of LAdV-2 to the Atadenovirus genus. Surprisingly, two fiber genes were found for the first time in an atadenovirus. After optimizing the production of LAdV-2 in cell culture, we determined the protein compositions of the virions. The two fiber genes produce two fiber proteins of different sizes that are incorporated into the viral particles. Interestingly, the two different fiber proteins assemble as either one short or three long fiber projections per vertex. Stoichiometry estimations indicate that the long fiber triplet is present at only one or two vertices per virion. Neither triple fibers nor a mixed number of fibers per vertex had previously been reported for adenoviruses or any other virus

The Leafhopper Fauna of an Apricot Orchard in Hungary

European stone fruit yellows (ESFY) is widespread in Europe. The disease, which is on the increase in Hungary, causes losses in yield, deterioration in fruit quality, decrease in the lifespan of fruit bearing trees and finally the death of the plant affected. It is most probably the leafhoppers and psyllids that play a role in the spread of the disease. In Hungary, the species composition of leafhoppers in apricot orchards had not been known before our research was carried out. In order to search for the potential vectors of the disease, research was undertaken to identify the leafhopper species present in the orchard along with their population changes. Samplings and checks were taken periodically in a pesticide-treated apricot orchard infected with ESFY in Pomáz, during the whole vegetation period of 2001. Various collecting methods were used for monitoring the species. Samples were obtained from the canopy, the undergrowth and the plants adjacent to the orchard by the means of Malaise traps, suction traps and yellow sticky boards. 3117 individuals belonging to 85 leafhopper species were collected during our samplings. A species (Edwardsiana sp.) presumably new to the fauna was also collected, although research is still underway to remove all doubts about its identification. The leafhoppers were present throughout the vegetation period. A significant increase in the number of Edwardsiana lamellaris, E. rosae and of Eupteryx calcarata was detected between the end of May and the beginning of June, whereas in the middle of August, at the end of September and in mid-October an increase in the number of Empoasca solani, E. decipiens and Zygina flammigera was observed. On the basis of the abundance of the species as well as that of the study of the canopy it can be stated that apricot trees are among the host-plants of Edwardsiana lamellaris, E. rosae and Eupteryx calcarata. Our objectives for further studies are to assess the role in ESFY transmission of the leafhopper species collected

The role of plant characteristics in the resistance of white cabbage to onion thrips: preliminary results

The onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) has been recognized as a severe worldwide pest of white cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. convar. capitata provar. capitata Duch.) for almost three decades. Although the most effective control measure is the use of resistant varieties, little is known about the resistance mechanism(s) involved. In 2007, a study at Tordas, Hungary, was carried out with 6 varieties to confirm that antixenosis is at least partly responsible for the resistance against onion thrips. The number of adult thrips and their progeny was counted on the outer ten head leaves at one-third of the heading process.At the same time, the light reflectance of old and outer head leaves was measured. The onion thrips damage was also assessed at full maturity. Antixenosis was found to be responsible for the resistance of ‘Balashi’, ‘Bloktor’ and ‘Riana’ varieties, since the number of adults and offspring found on head leaves was significantly lower than that of ‘Green gem’, ‘Hurricane’ and ‘Quisto’. The resistant varieties (‘Balashi’, ‘Bloktor’ and ‘Riana’) similarly suffered significantly lower damage than the susceptible ones (‘Green gem’, ‘Hurricane’ and ‘Quisto’). The light reflectance spectra of all six varieties were almost identical in the case of the old leaves, but a difference was found between the susceptible and resistant varieties when the reflectance of the outer head-forming leaves was measured. Similarly, the colour of the old leaves was not greatly different, but that of the outer head-forming leaves was correlated to the number of thrips adults found in the cabbage heads