Serum based screening and molecular detection of brucellosis in ruminants

22-25Brucellosis is a highly infectious bacterial disease that mainly affects cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, dogs, horses and wild animals primarily caused by Brucella abortus, B. ovis, B. suis, B. melitensis, and B. canis. It has a significant threat to the livestock and human community mainly in developing countries and requires accurate diagnosis, characterization and management. This study was undertaken in 238 samples (112 serum samples from the sheep, 82 serum samples from the goat and 44 serum samples from the cattle) suspected of brucellosis collected from the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. All the 238 samples were screened for the brucellosis by carrying out rose bengal plate agglutination test (RBPT). The seropositive serum samples were further subjected to Brucella cell surface salt extractable protein 31 (BCSP 31) gene-based PCR for Brucella genus confirmation. The BCSP 31-PCR positive samples were further subjected to Brucella-AMOS (avis-melitensis-ovis-suis) multiplex PCR for identification of B. abortus, B. ovis, B. melitensis and B. suis species. The study revealed that 8.92% (n = 10) serum samples from sheep, 9.75% (n = 8) serum samples from goat and 6.81% (n = 3) serum samples from cattle were seropositive for brucellosis by RBPT. All the twenty one seropositive samples produced specific amplicon of 223 bp by BCSP 31-PCR confirms brucellosis. Further molecular typing of BCSP 31-PCR positive samples by Brucella –AMOS  PCR revealed specific amplicon of 498 bp indicating the involvement of B. abortus in 19 serum (10 from sheep, 6 from goat and 3 from cattle) samples. One serum sample from goat revealed specific amplicons of 498 bp and 731 bp indicating the involvement of both B. abortus and B. meletensis. Another serum sample from goat yielded specific amplicons of 498 bp, 731 bp and 285 bp suggesting the mixed infection of B. abortus, B. meletensis and B. suis, respectively. The B. abortus is the common species involved in cattle, sheep and goat infections. Two caprine samples showed mixed infection which involves B. abortus, B. meletensis and B. suis species. The study concludes that the serum can be used as an alternate specimen for the fast and reliable molecular diagnosis of brucellosis

Desenvolvimento, avaliação e lançamento da cultivar precoce Guarani para o arroz de sequeiro

The process of selection of the line CNAx 095-BM 30-BM 9-28 was described and the results of the evaluations presented. The line originated from the cross 63-83/IAC 25 after two cycles of modified bulk (F2 and F3) followed by one cycle of pedigree selection (F4). Grain yield, leaf and neck blast were evaluated in preliminary and advanced yield trials conducted in four Brazilian states. The line overall grain yield mean was 19.4% higher than that of the check (IAC 165). For the states of Mato Grosso, Goiás, Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso do Sul the grain yield increase over the check was 17.7%, 22.7%, 26.6% and 7.3%, respectively. The line showed higher leaf and neck blast resistance. The line was agronomically described and commercialy released with the name of Guarani. Descreve-se o processo de seleção e apresentados os resultados das avaliações da linhagem de ciclo curto CNAx 095-BM 30-BM 9-28. A linhagem foi selecionada do cruzamento 63-83/IAC 25, através de duas gerações de seleção populacional modificada (F2 e F3), seguida de uma geração de seleção genealógica (F4). As avaliações de rendimento, de incidência de brusone nas folhas e no pescoço foram conduzidas em ensaio comparativo preliminar e avançado, em quatro estados brasileiros. A média geral da produção de grãos da linhagem foi 19,4% superior à da testemunha IAC 165, sendo 17,7%; 22,7%; 26,6% e 7,3% para os estados de Mato Grosso, Goiás, Minas Gerais e Mato Grosso do Sul, respectivamente. A resposta da linhagem à brusone nas folhas e no pescoço também foi superior. A linhagem foi caracterizada agronomicamente e lançada comercialmente com o nome de Guarani.

LongSAGE profiling of nine human embryonic stem cell lines

Analysis of a 2.6 million longSAGE sequence tag resource generated from nine human embryonic stem cell lines reveals an enrichment of RNA binding proteins and novel ES-specific transcripts

Arecibon planetaarisen tutkan Maan lähiasteroidihavainnot: 2017 joulukuu - 2019 joulukuu

We successfully observed 191 near-Earth asteroids using the Arecibo Observatory's S-band planetary radar system from 2017 December through 2019 December. We present radar cross sections for 167 asteroids; circular-polarization ratios for 112 asteroids based on Doppler-echo-power spectra measurements; and radar albedos, constraints on size and spin periods, and surface-feature and shape evaluation for 37 selected asteroids using delay-Doppler radar images with a range resolution of 75 m or finer. Out of 33 asteroids with an estimated effective diameter of at least 200 m and sufficient image quality to give clues of the shape, at least 4 (∼12%) are binary asteroids, including 1 equal-mass binary asteroid, 2017 YE5, and at least 10 (∼30%) are contact-binary asteroids. For 5 out of 112 asteroids with reliable measurements in both circular polarizations, we measured circular-polarization ratios greater than 1.0, which could indicate that they are E-type asteroids, while the mean and the 1σ standard deviation were 0.37 ± 0.23. Further, we find a mean opposite-sense circular-polarization radar albedo of 0.21 ± 0.11 for 41 asteroids (0.19 ± 0.06 for 11 S-complex asteroids). We identified two asteroids, 2011 WN15 and (505657) 2014 SR339, as possible metal-rich objects based on their unusually high radar albedos, and discuss possible evidence of water ice in 2017 YE5.Peer reviewe

Towards the introduction of the ‘Immunoscore’ in the classification of malignant tumours

The American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (AJCC/UICC) TNM staging system provides the most reliable guidelines for the routine prognostication and treatment of colorectal carcinoma. This traditional tumour staging summarizes data on tumour burden (T), the presence of cancer cells in draining and regional lymph nodes (N) and evidence for distant metastases (M). However, it is now recognized that the clinical outcome can vary significantly among patients within the same stage. The current classification provides limited prognostic information and does not predict response to therapy. Multiple ways to classify cancer and to distinguish different subtypes of colorectal cancer have been proposed, including morphology, cell origin, molecular pathways, mutation status and gene expression-based stratification. These parameters rely on tumour-cell characteristics. Extensive literature has investigated the host immune response against cancer and demonstrated the prognostic impact of the in situ immune cell infiltrate in tumours. A methodology named ‘Immunoscore’ has been defined to quantify the in situ immune infiltrate. In colorectal cancer, the Immunoscore may add to the significance of the current AJCC/UICC TNM classification, since it has been demonstrated to be a prognostic factor superior to the AJCC/UICC TNM classification. An international consortium has been initiated to validate and promote the Immunoscore in routine clinical settings. The results of this international consortium may result in the implementation of the Immunoscore as a new component for the classification of cancer, designated TNM-I (TNM-Immune). © 2013 The Authors. Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Clinical history and management recommendations of the smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome due to ACTA2 arginine 179 alterations

Smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome (SMDS) due to heterozygous ACTA2 arginine 179 alterations is characterized by patent ductus arteriosus, vasculopathy (aneurysm and occlusive lesions), pulmonary arterial hypertension, and other complications in smooth muscle-dependent organs. We sought to define the clinical history of SMDS to develop recommendations for evaluation and management. Medical records of 33 patients with SMDS (median age 12 years) were abstracted and analyzed. All patients had congenital mydriasis and related pupillary abnormalities at birth and presented in infancy with a patent ductus arteriosus or aortopulmonary window. Patients had cerebrovascular disease characterized by small vessel disease (hyperintense periventricular white matter lesions; 95%), intracranial artery stenosis (77%), ischemic strokes (27%), and seizures (18%). Twelve (36%) patients had thoracic aortic aneurysm repair or dissection at median age of 14 years and aortic disease was fully penetrant by the age of 25 years. Three (9%) patients had axillary artery aneurysms complicated by thromboembolic episodes. Nine patients died between the ages of 0.5 and 32 years due to aortic, pulmonary, or stroke complications, or unknown causes. Based on these data, recommendations are provided for the surveillance and management of SMDS to help prevent early-onset life-threatening complications

Brain-behaviour modes of covariation in healthy and clinically depressed young people

Abstract: Understanding how variations in dimensions of psychometrics, IQ and demographics relate to changes in brain connectivity during the critical developmental period of adolescence and early adulthood is a major challenge. This has particular relevance for mental health disorders where a failure to understand these links might hinder the development of better diagnostic approaches and therapeutics. Here, we investigated this question in 306 adolescents and young adults (14–24 y, 25 clinically depressed) using a multivariate statistical framework, based on canonical correlation analysis (CCA). By linking individual functional brain connectivity profiles to self-report questionnaires, IQ and demographic data we identified two distinct modes of covariation. The first mode mapped onto an externalization/internalization axis and showed a strong association with sex. The second mode mapped onto a well-being/distress axis independent of sex. Interestingly, both modes showed an association with age. Crucially, the changes in functional brain connectivity associated with changes in these phenotypes showed marked developmental effects. The findings point to a role for the default mode, frontoparietal and limbic networks in psychopathology and depression