Report of the Second International Symposium on Molecular Epidemiology in Childhood Leukaemia and Embryonal Tumours, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The recent International Symposium on Molecular epidemiology in Embryonal Tumours and Paediatric Leukaemia was held on 4–6 March 2008 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It proved a very productive meeting in which studies relating to genetics, therapeutical trials, identification of risk factors in acute leukaemia neuroblastoma and Wilms’ tumours were presented. Over 120 participants gathered for three days of fruitful discussions, including representatives of paediatrics, haematology, laboratory, epidemiology and pathology. Debates were held about strategies of applications of important biomarkers for clinical trials. Highlights of each of the scientific presentations are summarized below

Phenoconversion from probable rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder to mild cognitive impairment to dementia in a population-based sample

© 2017 The Authors Introduction Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is strongly associated with synucleinopathies. In 2012, we reported an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Parkinson disease (PD) in cognitively normal Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents, aged 70 to 89 years with probable RBD. Here, we examine their progression to dementia and other neurodegenerative phenotypes. Methods Fifteen participants with RBD who were diagnosed with either MCI or PD were longitudinally followed, and their subsequent clinical courses were reviewed. Results Over 6.4 ± 2.9 years, six of the 14 participants with MCI developed additional neurodegenerative signs, five of whom had Lewy body disease features. Four of them progressed to dementia at a mean age 84.8 ± 4.9 years, three of whom met the criteria for probable dementia with Lewy bodies. One subject with PD developed MCI, but not dementia. Discussion Our findings from the population-based sample of Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents suggest that a substantial number of RBD patients tend to develop overt synucleinopathy features over time, and RBD patients who develop MCI and subsequent dementia have clinical features most consistent with dementia with Lewy bodies

A proposed P2P Kurdistan Academic Network Backbone (KANB), Based on Random Linear Network Coding

The current rate of growth in computer network usage is a problematic issue motivates the inspiration to investigate less conventional solutions, similar to Network Coding (NC) which has attracted a lot of attention lately, to improve the bandwidth utilization and latency in computer networks. The objective of this paper is to show that the usage of Network coding is possible on enhancing the execution of Kurdistan Academic Network Backbone (KANB) to associate the primary ten urban communities in Kurdistan Region that almost contains a greater part of academic institutions. The proposed model applies peer to peer (P2P) multicasting on KANB, which does not require any centralized knowledge about the topology of the network. The Random Linear Network Coding (RLNC) has been utilized for its superior properties to address the problems of delay, throughput and lake of security associated with store-and-forward based classical networks. Simulation results point out the advantages of using network coding over the classical (store and forward) technique in term of improving the throughput gain and latency reduction. Hawler city the capital and greatest city in Kurdistan Region have been chosen as a source node while Slemani city has been elected as a sink, node. Thus, Network coding is applied at intermediate nodes

Virulence determinants and genotypes of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> clinical isolates

Background. H. pylori is the principal causative agent of gastroduodenal disorders in humans. The development and severity of lesions in infected individuals depend on the virulence of H. pylori strains. Aims: Detection of virulence determinants and comparative analysis of H. pylori genotypes in patients with chronic gastritis (CG) and duodenal ulcer (DU). Materials and methods. The 53 H. pylori strains were isolated in St. Petersburg from patients with CG (n = 34) and DU (n = 19). The genetic determinants of virulence cagA, iceA, vacA and H. pylori genotypes in patients with CG and UC were determined using the standard PCR method. Results. The cagA gene was found in 64.1% of H. pylori strains. The proportions of cagA+ isolates from patients with CG and DU was 55.8% (15/34) and 78.9% (15/19), respectively (p 0.05). The iceA1 allele of H. pylori was detected in 47.4% of patients with DU, the iceA2 in 47.1% of patients with CG (p 0.05). The vacAs1 allele was significantly dominant in patients with DU 94.7% versus 70.6% in CG (p 0.05). No significant difference in vacA m1 and m2 alleles was found in H. pylori from different groups of patients (p 0.05). All cagA+ strains were carriers of the vacA s1 allele. The vast majority of strains (10 out of 11) of the cagA/vacAs2 genotype were isolated from patients with CG. Conclusion. The significant association between vacAs1, vacAs2 allelic variants, as well as vacA s1/m2, vacA s2/m2 genotypes of the pathogen and severity of clinical manifestations of H. pylori infection has been established in our study. The vacAs1 and vacA s1/m2 genotypes of the pathogen are associated with duodenal ulcer

Bacterial Contamination of Imported and Local Corn Kernel (Used as Animal Feed) in Iraq

This study was carried out to determine bacterial contamination of imported and local corn kernel (used as animal feed) in Iraq, which causes diseases and great economic losses. A total of 163 samples were collected (100 samples of the imported corn kernel from border points and 63 samples of the local corn kernel from the provinces) and cultured then Isolates were identified according to morphological Characteristics, biochemical tests and Agglutination test. The results indicated a total Gram-negative bacteria in 94 samples of the total samples (163) at (58%), includes: 57 Isolates from the imported corn kernel at (57%), which includes :Salmonella spp. in 14 samples at (14%), Escherichia coli in 21 samples at (21%), Klebsiella spp. in 13 samples at (13%), Proteus spp. in 9 samples at (9%) but absence of Serratia spp. and Enterobacter spp. . Addition to 37 Isolates from the local corn kernel at (60%),which includes: Salmonella spp. in 10 samples at (16%), Escherichia coli in 15 samples at (24%), Proteus spp. in 6 samples at (10%), Serratia spp. in 3 samples at (5%), Enterobacter spp. in 3 samples at (5%) but absence of Klebsiella spp. This study concluded that must be evaluated the microbial quality of imported and local corn kernel (used as animal feed) by manufacturers and health authorities to ensure safety and quality of corn to prevent diseases and great economic losses

Bacterial Contamination of Imported and Local Corn Kernel (Used as Animal Feed) in Iraq

This study was carried out to determine bacterial contamination of imported and local corn kernel (used as animal feed) in Iraq, which causes diseases and great economic losses. A total of 163 samples were collected (100 samples of the imported corn kernel from border points and 63 samples of the local corn kernel from the provinces) and cultured then Isolates were identified according to morphological Characteristics, biochemical tests and Agglutination test. The results indicated a total Gram-negative bacteria in 94 samples of the total samples (163) at (58%), includes: 57 Isolates from the imported corn kernel at (57%), which includes :Salmonella spp. in 14 samples at (14%), Escherichia coli in 21 samples at (21%), Klebsiella spp. in 13 samples at (13%), Proteus spp. in 9 samples at (9%) but absence of Serratia spp. and Enterobacter spp. . Addition to 37 Isolates from the local corn kernel at (60%),which includes: Salmonella spp. in 10 samples at (16%), Escherichia coli in 15 samples at (24%), Proteus spp. in 6 samples at (10%), Serratia spp. in 3 samples at (5%), Enterobacter spp. in 3 samples at (5%) but absence of Klebsiella spp. This study concluded that must be evaluated the microbial quality of imported and local corn kernel (used as animal feed) by manufacturers and health authorities to ensure safety and quality of corn to prevent diseases and great economic losses

Frequency and topography of cerebral microbleeds in dementia with Lewy bodies compared to Alzheimer's disease

AbstractAimTo determine the frequency and topographic distribution of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) in comparison to CMBs in Alzheimer disease dementia (AD).MethodsConsecutive probable DLB (n = 23) patients who underwent 3-T T2* weighted gradient-recalled-echo MRI, and age and gender matched probable Alzheimer's disease patients (n = 46) were compared for the frequency and location of CMBs.ResultsThe frequency of one or more CMBs was similar among patients with DLB (30%) and AD (24%). Highest densities of CMBs were found in the occipital lobes of patients with both DLB and AD. Patients with AD had greater densities of CMBs in the parietal, temporal lobes and infratentorial regions compared to DLB (p < 0.05).ConclusionCMBs are as common in patients with DLB as in patients with AD, with highest densities observed in the occipital lobes, suggesting common pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying CMBs in both diseases

Using contractual incentives in district nursing in the English NHS: results from a qualitative study

© 2018 The author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Since 2008, health policy in England has been focusing increasingly on improving quality in healthcare services. To ensure quality improvements in community nursing, providers are required to meet several quality targets, including an incentive scheme known as Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN). This paper reports on a study of how financial incentives are used in district nursing, an area of care which is particularly difficult to measure and monitor