1st National ring trial on detection of antibodies to trichinella in pigs

Regulation (EC) 2075/2005 ensures official inspection of food of animal origin with specific rules on official controls for Trichinella in meat. Regarding certification of Trichinella-free farms, this regulation recommends serological methods for monitoring. The aim of the ring trial was to evaluate a new ELISA regarding test accuracy and practical usage. The participants of the ring trial tested 22 sera prepared by the German National Reference Laboratory for Trichinellosis and additionally 22 field samples from their own sample collection using the commercial ELISA kit. This ELISA demonstrated a very good diagnostic sensitivity and robustness in the ring trial

Circular Optical Nanoantennas: An Analytical Theory

An entirely analytical theory is provided for describing the resonance properties of optical nanoantennas made of a stack of homogeneous discs, i.e. circular patch nanoantennas. It consists in analytically calculating the phase accumulation of surface plasmon polaritons across the resonator and an additional contribution from the complex reflection coefficient at the antenna termination. This makes the theory self-contained with no need for fitting parameters. The very antenna resonances are then explained by a simple Fabry-Perot resonator model. Predictions are compared to rigorous simulations and show excellent agreement. Using this analytical model, circular antennas can be tuned by varying the composition of the stack

Cohesin Removal along the Chromosome Arms during the First Meiotic Division Depends on a NEK1-PP1γ-WAPL Axis in the Mouse

SummaryMammalian NIMA-like kinase-1 (NEK1) is a dual-specificity kinase highly expressed in mouse germ cells during prophase I of meiosis. Loss of NEK1 induces retention of cohesin on chromosomes at meiotic prophase I. Timely deposition and removal of cohesin is essential for accurate chromosome segregation. Two processes regulate cohesin removal: a non-proteolytic mechanism involving WAPL, sororin, and PDS5B and direct cleavage by separase. Here, we demonstrate a role for NEK1 in the regulation of WAPL loading during meiotic prophase I, via an interaction between NEK1 and PDS5B. This regulation of WAPL by NEK1-PDS5B is mediated by protein phosphatase 1 gamma (PP1γ), which both interacts with and is a phosphotarget of NEK1. Taken together, our results reveal that NEK1 phosphorylates PP1γ, leading to the dephosphorylation of WAPL, which, in turn, results in its retention on chromosome cores to promote loss of cohesion at the end of prophase I in mammals

Increased frequency and nocturia in a middle aged male may not always be due to Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH): a case report

Primary signet ring cell carcinoma of urinary bladder is a rare type of bladder tumor and carries a very high mortality rate. It may have a clinical presentation similar to common diseases like Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) and the management options are extremely limited. We report a case of 58 year old Caucasian male who presented with a 5 month history of increased frequency of urination, nocturia and weight loss without any fever or hematuria. He was found to have an increased creatinine of 2.8 mg/dl and a prostate specific antigen level of 0.18 ng/ml. His azotemia was thought to be secondary to BPH. A foley catheter was initially placed with a plan for outpatient follow up. On removal of the catheter his problems persisted and he returned to the hospital. Diagnostic work up including abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) scan, retrograde pyelogram, cystography and cystoscopic biopsies revealed the diagnosis of primary signet ring cell carcinoma of urinary bladder. Although cystectomy was planned, our patient passed away before this could be done

Case Reports1. A Late Presentation of Loeys-Dietz Syndrome: Beware of TGFβ Receptor Mutations in Benign Joint Hypermobility

Background: Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) and dissections are not uncommon causes of sudden death in young adults. Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a rare, recently described, autosomal dominant, connective tissue disease characterized by aggressive arterial aneurysms, resulting from mutations in the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) receptor genes TGFBR1 and TGFBR2. Mean age at death is 26.1 years, most often due to aortic dissection. We report an unusually late presentation of LDS, diagnosed following elective surgery in a female with a long history of joint hypermobility. Methods: A 51-year-old Caucasian lady complained of chest pain and headache following a dural leak from spinal anaesthesia for an elective ankle arthroscopy. CT scan and echocardiography demonstrated a dilated aortic root and significant aortic regurgitation. MRA demonstrated aortic tortuosity, an infrarenal aortic aneurysm and aneurysms in the left renal and right internal mammary arteries. She underwent aortic root repair and aortic valve replacement. She had a background of long-standing joint pains secondary to hypermobility, easy bruising, unusual fracture susceptibility and mild bronchiectasis. She had one healthy child age 32, after which she suffered a uterine prolapse. Examination revealed mild Marfanoid features. Uvula, skin and ophthalmological examination was normal. Results: Fibrillin-1 testing for Marfan syndrome (MFS) was negative. Detection of a c.1270G > C (p.Gly424Arg) TGFBR2 mutation confirmed the diagnosis of LDS. Losartan was started for vascular protection. Conclusions: LDS is a severe inherited vasculopathy that usually presents in childhood. It is characterized by aortic root dilatation and ascending aneurysms. There is a higher risk of aortic dissection compared with MFS. Clinical features overlap with MFS and Ehlers Danlos syndrome Type IV, but differentiating dysmorphogenic features include ocular hypertelorism, bifid uvula and cleft palate. Echocardiography and MRA or CT scanning from head to pelvis is recommended to establish the extent of vascular involvement. Management involves early surgical intervention, including early valve-sparing aortic root replacement, genetic counselling and close monitoring in pregnancy. Despite being caused by loss of function mutations in either TGFβ receptor, paradoxical activation of TGFβ signalling is seen, suggesting that TGFβ antagonism may confer disease modifying effects similar to those observed in MFS. TGFβ antagonism can be achieved with angiotensin antagonists, such as Losartan, which is able to delay aortic aneurysm development in preclinical models and in patients with MFS. Our case emphasizes the importance of timely recognition of vasculopathy syndromes in patients with hypermobility and the need for early surgical intervention. It also highlights their heterogeneity and the potential for late presentation. Disclosures: The authors have declared no conflicts of interes

1st National ring trial on detection of antibodies to trichinella in pigs

Regulation (EC) 2075/2005 ensures official inspection of food of animal origin with specific rules on official controls for Trichinella in meat. Regarding certification of Trichinella-free farms, this regulation recommends serological methods for monitoring. The aim of the ring trial was to evaluate a new ELISA regarding test accuracy and practical usage. The participants of the ring trial tested 22 sera prepared by the German National Reference Laboratory for Trichinellosis and additionally 22 field samples from their own sample collection using the commercial ELISA kit. This ELISA demonstrated a very good diagnostic sensitivity and robustness in the ring trial.</p

Functional Behavioral Assessment: A Three-Tiered Prevention Model

Functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is an important element in developing effective behavior interventions in schools. By understanding how the environment predicts and maintains problem behavior, school social workers can change those environmental conditions and facilitate positive behavior. Although FBA is traditionally applied within the context of special education, it is relevant to supporting behavior of all students in a school. In this book, the authors explore how FBA can be applied in a three-tiered model of prevention and provide tools and case examples to facilitate application. This process is described as occurring within a team context wherein the school social worker serves as a facilitator and contributor with behavioral expertise. In Tier 1, FBA is applied to the behavior of all students in a school and leads to the development of school-wide behavior interventions that are intended to prevent students from developing more serious patterns of problem behavior. In Tier-2 FBAs, the behavior of at-risk students is assessed in an efficient manner to determine which available evidence-based interventions will be effective in improving their behavior. In Tier 3, FBAs involve extensive individual assessments of the conditions that maintain the problem behavior students with significant behavior problems. This book provides detailed information about conducting FBAs at each tier of prevention and reviews the process of developing interventions from the FBA information at each tier. As initiatives encouraging positive behavior support in schools proliferate, this book will help school social workers develop the skill set necessary to maintain their role as important contributors to student outcomes

Effects of public and private deviancy on compliance with a request

A confederate requester asked subjects to write letters for an educational campaign after they had completed a battery of tests and received either deviant or nondeviant feedback. Half of the subjects were led to believe that the requester had knowledge of their test performance; the remaining half believed that the confederate did not know their test scores. Within these conditions, some subjects believed that complying with the request would involve future meetings with the requester while others were not led to anticipate any future interaction. As expected, deviants complied more than nondeviants replicating Freedman and Doob's (1968) results; however, neither the secret/known nor the future interaction variations produced effects. Contrary to the prediction that deviants are compliant because they wish to avoid mistreatment, secret deviants complied slightly more than known deviants. Compliance was discussed as instrumental in improving self-image.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/21960/1/0000369.pd