Quantification and Genetic Analysis of Salivirus/Klassevirus in Wastewater in Arizona, USA

Salivirus/klassevirus sequences were identified in 7 (15 %) wastewater samples collected in Arizona monthly for a year, with the highest concentration of 2.28 × 105 and 2.46 × 104 copies/L in influent and effluent, respectively. This is the first report of quantification and genetic analysis of salivirus/klassevirus in water samples in the United States.International Fulbright Science & Technology AwardJapan Society for the Promotion of Science (Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research Abroad (FY 2011 no. 517)))National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Water and Environmental Technology (WET) Center, University of Arizona

Reduction of Arcobacter at Two Conventional Wastewater Treatment Plants in Southern Arizona, USA

This study aimed to identify the bacterial community in two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and to determine the occurrence and reduction of Arcobacter, along with virulence genes (ciaB and pldA). A total of 48 samples (24 influent and 24 effluent) were collected at two WWTPs in southern Arizona in the United States, monthly from August 2011 to July 2012. Bacterial DNA extract was utilized for 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing. Quantification of Arcobacter 16S rRNA gene was conducted using a recently developed SYBR Green-based quantitative PCR assay. Among 847 genera identified, 113 (13%) were identified as potentially pathogenic bacteria. Arcobacter 16S rRNA gene was detected in all influent samples and ten (83%) and nine (75%) effluent samples at each plant, respectively. Log reduction ratios of Arcobacter 16S rRNA gene in Plant A and Plant B were 1.7 ± 0.9 (n = 10) and 2.3 ± 1.5 (n = 9), respectively. The ciaB gene was detected by quantitative PCR in eleven (92%) and twelve (100%) of 12 influent samples from Plant A and Plant B, respectively, while the pldA gene was detected in eight (67%) and six (50%) influent samples from Plant A and Plant B, respectively. The prevalence of potentially pathogenic bacteria in WWTP effluent indicated the need for disinfection before discharge into the environment.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Occurrence and genetic diversity of human cosavirus in influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plants in Arizona, United States

Human cosavirus (HCoSV) is a novel member of the family Picornaviridae. We investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of HCoSV in influent and effluent wastewater in Arizona over a 12-month period, from August 2011 to July 2012. HCoSV sequences were identified in six (25 %) influent samples and one (4 %) effluent sample, with the highest concentration of 3.24 x 10[superscript 5] and 1.54 x 10³ copies/liter in influent and effluent, respectively. The strains were characterized based on their 5’ untranslated region and classified into species A and D, demonstrating that genetically heterogeneous HCoSV were circulating with a clear temporal shift of predominant strains in the study area.National Science Foundation (U.S.) Water and Environmental Technology (WET) CenterJapan Society for the Promotion of Science. Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research Abroad (FY 2011 no. 517

Endoscopic Neck Surgery for Thyroid Carcinoma

In the past 5 years, endoscopic neck surgery has been performed by various surgeons in Japan. However, many problems remain to be solved, including indications for this related in malignant thyroid tumors. For small thyroid cancers and legions suspected of malignancy, we found that we could obtain radicality in endoscopic neck surgery that was comparable to that attainable by conventional methods. Here, we describe our recent endoscopic surgical experience in five patients with preoperative diagnoses of definite or suspected thyroid carcinoma

Reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs interferes with epidermal growth factor receptor signaling

金沢大学がん研究所The reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) gene had been isolated as an antagonist to RAS signaling; however, the mechanism of its action is not clear. In this study, the effect of loss of RECK function was assessed in various ways and cell systems. Successive cell cultivation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) according to 3T3 protocol revealed that the germline knockout of RECK confers accelerated cell proliferation and early escape from cellular senescence associated with downregulation of p19 Arf, Trp53 and p21Cdkn1a. In contrast, short hairpin RNA-mediated depletion of RECK induced irreversible growth arrest along with several features of the Arf, Trp53 and Cdkn1a-dependent cellular senescence. Within 2 days of RECK depletion, we observed a transient increase in protein kinase B (AKT) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation associated with an upregulated expression of cyclin D1, p19Arf, Trp53, p21Cdkn1a and Sprouty 2. On further cultivation, RAS, AKT and ERK activities were then downregulated to a level lower than control, indicating that RECK depletion leads to a negative feedback to RAS signaling and subsequent cellular senescence. In addition, we observed that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activity was transiently upregulated by RECK depletion in MEFs, and continuously downregulated by RECK overexpression in colon cancer cells. These findings indicate that RECK is a novel modulator of EGFR signaling. © 2011 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved

Reducing salt intake for prevention of cardiovascular diseases in high-risk patients by advanced health education intervention (RESIP-CVD study), Northern Thailand: study protocol for a cluster randomized trial

BACKGROUND: Decreasing salt consumption can prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Practically, it is difficult to promote people’s awareness of daily salt intake and to change their eating habits in terms of reducing salt intake for better cardiovascular health. Health education programs visualizing daily dietary salt content and intake may promote lifestyle changes in patients at high risk of cardiovascular diseases. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a cluster randomized trial. A total of 800 high-CVD-risk patients attending diabetes and hypertension clinics at health centers in Muang District, Chiang Rai province, Thailand, will be studied with informed consent. A health center recruiting 100 participants is a cluster, the unit of randomization. Eight clusters will be randomized into intervention and control arms and followed up for 1 year. Within the intervention clusters the following will be undertaken: (1) salt content in the daily diet will be measured and shown to study participants; (2) 24-hour salt intake will be estimated in overnight-collected urine and the results shown to the participants; (3) a dietician will assist small group health education classes in cooking meals with less salt. The primary outcome is blood pressure change at the 1-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes at the 1-year follow-up are estimated 24-hoursalt intake, incidence of CVD events and CVD death. The intention-to-treat analysis will be followed. Blood pressure and estimated 24-hour salt intake will be compared between intervention and control groups at the cluster and individual level at the 1-year follow-up. Clinical CVD events and deaths will be analyzed by time-event analysis. Retinal blood vessel calibers of CVD-risk patients will be assessed cross-sectionally. Behavioral change to reduce salt intake and the influencing factors will be determined by structured equation model (SEM). Multilevel regression analyses will be applied. Finally, the cost effectiveness of the intervention will be analyzed. DISCUSSION: This study is unique as it will recruit the individuals most vulnerable to CVD morbidity and mortality by applying the general Framingham CVD risk scoring system. Dietary salt reduction will be applied as a prioritized, community level intervention for the prevention of CVD in a developing country. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN3941627

Ocorrência do pepper yellow mosaic virus e cucumber mosaic virus em Capsicum chinense no estado do Amazonas, Brasil

The habanero chilli pepper, Capsicum chinense is an important crop in the Amazon Basin, mainly grown by small-scale producers. Capsicum chinense plants in an experimental field in the northern Brazilian state of Amazonas were found exhibiting characteristic symptoms of viral infection. Leaf sap from symptomatic plants examined under a transmission electron microscope revealed the presence of elongated flexuous particles and isometric particles. Using molecular assays, the viruses were identified as pepper yellow mosaic virus (PepYMV) and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Aphids, identified as Aphis gossypii, were found colonizing the C. chinense plants in the field and may be the vector for both PepYMV and CMV. We report the first occurrence of these viruses infecting C. chinense in the state of Amazonas.A pimenta-de-cheiro, Capsicum chinense é uma cultura importante na Bacia Amazônica, cultivada principalmente por pequenos produtores. Plantas de C. chinense em um campo experimental localizado no norte do estado brasileiro do Amazonas, foram encontradas apresentando sintomas característicos de infecção viral. Extratos de amostras de folhas sintomáticas examinados ao microscópio eletrônico de transmissão revelaram a presença de partículas alongadas e flexuosas e de partículas isométricas. Análises moleculares permitiram identificar a presença do pepper yellow mosaic virus (PepYMV) e do cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Pulgões, identificados como Aphis gossypii foram encontrados colonizando pimenteiras-de-cheiro neste campo experimental e podem representar o provável vetor de PepYMV e CMV. Este trabalho relata a primeira ocorrência desses vírus infectando C. chinense no estado do Amazonas

Excitability of the Primary Motor Cortex Increases More Strongly with Slow- than with Normal-Speed Presentation of Actions

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate how the speed of observed action affects the excitability of the primary motor cortex (M1), as assessed by the size of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Copyright:Methods: Eighteen healthy subjects watched a video clip of a person catching a ball, played at three different speeds (normal-, half-, and quarter-speed). MEPs were induced by TMS when the model\u27s hand had opened to the widest extent just before catching the ball ("open") and when the model had just caught the ball ("catch"). These two events were locked to specific frames of the video clip ("phases"), rather than occurring at specific absolute times, so that they could easily be compared across different speeds. MEPs were recorded from the thenar (TH) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscles of the right hand.Results: The MEP amplitudes were higher when the subjects watched the video clip at low speed than when they watched the clip at normal speed. A repeated-measures ANOVA, with the factor VIDEO-SPEED, showed significant main effects. Bonferroni\u27s post hoc test showed that the following MEP amplitude differences were significant: TH, normal vs. quarter; ADM, normal vs. half; and ADM, normal vs. quarter. Paired t-tests showed that the significant MEP amplitude differences between TMS phases under each speed condition were TH, "catch" higher than "open" at quarter speed; ADM, "catch" higher than "open" at half speed.Conclusions: These results indicate that the excitability of M1 was higher when the observed action was played at low speed. Our findings suggest that the action observation system became more active when the subjects observed the video clip at low speed, because the subjects could then recognize the elements of action and intention in others