Delightfully Sober

It’s a Friday night and you’ve found yourself once again in Campustown. But there’s a catch…you’re sober. You’ve agreed to be the designated driver for the night, and the bottom line is that you’re not drinking. To some, this sounds like a boring night waiting to happen—but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re unsure, check out these quick tips on how to make the most of your sober night out

Toxoplasma gondii Syntaxin 6 is required for vesicular transport between endosomal-like compartments and the Golgi Complex

Apicomplexans are obligate intracellular parasites that invade the host cell in an active process that relies on unique secretory organelles (micronemes, rhoptries and dense granules) localized at the apical tip of these highly polarized eukaryotes. In order for the contents of these specialized organelles to reach their final destination, these proteins are sorted post-Golgi and it has been speculated that they pass through endosomal-like compartments (ELCs), where they undergo maturation. Here, we characterize a Toxoplasma gondii homologue of Syntaxin 6 (TgStx6), a well-established marker for the early endosomes and trans Golgi network (TGN) in diverse eukaryotes. Indeed, TgStx6 appears to have a role in the retrograde transport between ELCs, the TGN and the Golgi, because overexpression of TgStx6 results in the development of abnormally shaped parasites with expanded ELCs, a fragmented Golgi and a defect in inner membrane complex maturation. Interestingly, other organelles such as the micronemes, rhoptries and the apicoplast are not affected, establishing the TGN as a major sorting compartment where several transport pathways intersect. It therefore appears thatToxoplasma has retained a plant-like secretory pathway

Better pathways for people with aphasia

Integrated care pathways, clinical pathways, patient journeys and care maps are interchangeable terminology to describe tools which promote organised and efficient patient care based on the best available evidence and guidelines (Kwan et al., 2004). A care pathway can further be described as a ‘complex intervention for the mutual decision making and organisation of care processes for a well-defined group of patients during a well-defined period’ (European Pathway Association, 2007). The use of care pathways allows continuous assessment of clinical processes and outcomes against current best practice and guidelines. As evidence-based practice become progressively more important for effective health delivery, increased research use within aphasia rehabilitation is paramount. Currently, stroke clinical guidelines offer very little in the form of aphasia-specific recommendations to inform practice. Our systematic review of clinical practice guidelines revealed a paucity of high-quality aphasia rehabilitation guidelines internationally (Rohde et al, in press). Integrated care pathways are gaining increasing popularity in health care delivery and offer a potential solution to the lack of evidence-based recommendations within aphasia rehabilitation. The AARP aims to improve the overall patient journey for people with aphasia through providing clinicians with access to the best evidence in a dynamic and user-friendly format. In addition to the principles of integrated care pathways, the AARP utilises the theory of evidence-based practice through combining the best available evidence with family/client perspectives and clinical expertise. The AARP is also underpinned by the principles of knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE) which aims to close the research-practice gap in order to realise and maximise the benefits of research within the practice setting. Hence the aims of this paper are to: a) Present results of the systematic review of clinical guidelines in stroke and aphasia b) Describe the consensus document that maps the AARP. c) Describe the translation of a highly complex system to a user-friendly web-based system

Chromosomal Signatures Corroborate the Phylogenetic Relationships within Akodontini (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae).

Comparative chromosome-painting analysis among highly rearranged karyotypes of Sigmodontinae rodents (Rodentia, Cricetidae) detects conserved syntenic blocks, which are proposed as chromosomal signatures and can be used as phylogenetic markers. In the Akodontini tribe, the molecular topology (Cytb and/or IRBP) shows five low-supported clades (divisions: "Akodon", "Bibimys", "Blarinomys", "Oxymycterus", and "Scapteromys") within two high-supported major clades (clade A: "Akodon", "Bibimys", and "Oxymycterus"; clade B: "Blarinomys" and "Scapteromys"). Here, we examine the chromosomal signatures of the Akodontini tribe by using Hylaeamys megacephalus (HME) probes to study the karyotypes of Oxymycterus amazonicus (2n = 54, FN = 64) and Blarinomys breviceps (2n = 28, FN = 50), and compare these data with those from other taxa investigated using the same set of probes. We strategically employ the chromosomal signatures to elucidate phylogenetic relationships among the Akodontini. When we follow the evolution of chromosomal signature states, we find that the cytogenetic data corroborate the current molecular relationships in clade A nodes. We discuss the distinct events that caused karyotypic variability in the Oxymycterus and Blarinomys genera. In addition, we propose that Blarinomys may constitute a species complex, and that the taxonomy should be revised to better delimit the geographical boundaries and their taxonomic status

Reverse Logistics and Urban Logistics: Making a Link

5684This work is aimed at analyzing potential links between reverse logistics and urban logistics and describing opportunities for collaboration between both areas of research. A description of the current state-of-the-art is provided in order to highlight the main challenges faced by both disciplines. For example, regarding reverse logistics, new recovery options, marketing strategies for recovered products, and legislation issues on the return of products in specific contexts; in regards to urban logistics, long-term planning, stakeholders’ engagement, information management, efficiency, reliability and safety, and new business models are some of such key challenges. Despite the growing interest shown in both logistics areas and their relevance for companies and consumers, reverse logistics and urban logistics are two concepts that are still somewhat unknown and, above all, treated as being relatively separated. However, there exist some aspectswhere the two disciplines converge and thatmay represent opportunities for collaboration, for example, the proper treatment and management of urban waste, and the efficient management of commercial refunds and returns. In addition, other key issues, such as land use, city typology, infrastructures, and stakeholders’ engagement should be further analyzed in order to keep advancing in the description of links between both areas.S

Physicians’ Perspectives on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Nonbacterial Osteomyelitis

Background/Purpose. Understanding the practices of pediatric rheumatologists in diagnosing and treating chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) can provide important information to guide the development of consensus treatment plans. The objectives of this study were to determine physicians’ approaches to (1) diagnosing and monitoring CNO, (2) ordering a bone biopsy, and (3) making treatment decisions. Methods. A survey was distributed among members of the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance using a web-based questionnaire. Results. 121 of 277 (41%) attending physician members completed the survey. Plain radiographs (89%) were most commonly used followed by regional MRI (78%), bone scintigraphy (43%), and whole-body MRI (36%). The top three reasons for performing a biopsy were constitutional findings (66%), unifocal bone lesions (64%), and nocturnal bone pain (45%). Nearly all responders (95%) prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as initial therapy. For patients who failed NSAID treatment, methotrexate (67%), tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (65%), and bisphosphonates (46%) were the next most commonly used treatments. The presence of a spinal lesion increased the use of bisphosphonate treatment. Conclusion. The diagnostic approach and disease activity monitoring for CNO varied among surveyed physicians. Our survey findings provided important background for the development of consensus treatment plans for CNO

A Perspective of Coagulation Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis and in Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis

A key role of both coagulation and vascular thrombosis has been reported since the first descriptions of multiple sclerosis (MS). Subsequently, the observation of a close concordance between perivascular fibrin(ogen) deposition and the occurrence of clinical signs in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS, led to numerous investigations focused on the role of thrombin and fibrin(ogen). Indeed, the activation of microglia, resident innate immune cells, occurs early after fibrinogen leakage in the pre-demyelinating lesion stage of EAE and MS. Thrombin has both neuroprotective and pro-apoptotic effects according to its concentration. After exposure to high concentrations of thrombin, astrocytes become reactive and lose their neuroprotective and supportive functions, microglia proliferate, and produce reactive oxygen species, IL-1β, and TNFα. Heparin inhibits the thrombin generation and suppresses EAE. Platelets play an important role too. Indeed, in the acute phase of the disease, they begin the inflammatory response in the central nervous system by producing of IL-1alpha and triggering and amplifying the immune response. Their depletion, on the contrary, ameliorates the course of EAE. Finally, it has been proven that the use of several anticoagulant agents can successfully improve EAE. Altogether, these studies highlight the role of the coagulation pathway in the pathophysiology of MS and suggest possible therapeutic targets that may complement existing treatments

Chalcones Enhance TRAIL-Induced Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells

Chalcones exhibit chemopreventive and antitumor effects. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a naturally occurring anticancer agent that induces apoptosis in cancer cells and is not toxic to normal cells. We examined the cytotoxic and apoptotic effect of five chalcones in combination with TRAIL on prostate cancer cells. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by the MTT and LDH assays. The apoptosis was determined using flow cytometry with annexin V-FITC. Our study showed that all five tested chalcones: chalcone, licochalcone-A, isobavachalcone, xanthohumol, butein markedly augmented TRAIL-mediated apoptosis and cytotoxicity in prostate cancer cells and confirmed the significant role of chalcones in chemoprevention of prostate cancer