Sensitive and specific detection of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in clinical specimens using a multi-target real-time PCR approach

Background: The laboratory diagnosis of Chagas disease is challenging because the usefulness of different diagnostic tests will depend on the stage of the disease. Serology is the preferred method for patients in the chronic phase, whereas PCR can be successfully used to diagnose acute and congenital cases. Here we present data using a combination of three TaqMan PCR assays to detect T. cruzi DNA in clinical specimens. Methods/Principal Findings: Included in the analysis were DNA extracted from 320 EDTA blood specimens, 18 heart tissue specimens, 6 umbilical cord blood specimens, 2 skin tissue specimens and 3 CSF specimens. For the blood specimens both whole blood and buffy coat fraction were analyzed. The specimens were from patients living in the USA, with suspected exposure to T. cruzi through organ transplantation, contact with triatomine bugs or laboratory accidents, and from immunosuppressed patients with suspected Chagas disease reactivation. Real-time PCR was successfully used to diagnose acute and Chagas disease reactivation in 20 patients, including one case of organ-transmitted infection and one congenital case. Analysis of buffy coat fractions of EDTA blood led to faster diagnosis in six of these patients compared to whole blood analysis. The three real-time PCR assays produced identical results for 94% of the specimens. The major reason for discrepant results was variable sensitivity among the assays, but two of the real-time PCR assays also produced four false positive results. Conclusions/Significance: These data strongly indicate that at least two PCR assays with different performances should be combined to increase the accuracy. This evaluation also highlights the benefit of extracting DNA from the blood specimen's buffy coat to increase the sensitivity of PCR analysis.Fil: Qvarnstrom, Yvonne. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados UnidosFil: Schijman, Alejandro Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Veron, Vincent. Centre hospitalier Andrée-Rosemon; Guayana FrancesaFil: Aznar, Christine. Centre hospitalier Andrée-Rosemon; Guayana FrancesaFil: Steurer, Francis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados UnidosFil: da Silva, Alexandre J.. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados Unido

Not fitting in and getting out : psychological type and congregational satisfaction among Anglican churchgoers in England

Listening to the motivations reported by individuals for ceasing church attendance and becoming church leavers, Francis and Richter identified high on the list the sense of "not fitting in". Drawing on psychological type theory, several recent studies have documented the way in which some psychological types are over-represented in church congregations and other psychological types are under-represented. Bringing these two observations together, the present study tested the hypothesis that church congregations have created type-alike communities within which individuals displaying the opposite type preferences are more likely to feel marginalised and to display lower levels of satisfaction with the congregations they attend. Data were provided by 1867 churchgoers who completed a measure of psychological type, together with measures of frequency of attendance and congregational satisfaction. These data confirmed that congregations were weighted towards preferences for introversion, sensing, feeling and judging, and that individuals displaying the opposite preferences (especially intuition, thinking and perceiving) recorded lower levels of congregational satisfaction. The implications of these findings are discussed for promoting congregational retention by enhancing awareness of psychological type preferences among those who attend

Filiation et transfert d’objets scientifiques dans les écrits de recherche.

International audienc

Filiation et transfert d’objets scientifiques dans les écrits de recherche.

International audienc

Cassini observations of the thermal plasma in the vicinity of Saturn's main rings and the F and G rings

The ion mass spectrometer on Cassini detected enhanced ion flux near Saturn's main rings that is consistent with the presence of atomic and molecular oxygen ions in the thermal plasma. The ring "atmosphere'' and "ionosphere'' are likely produced by UV photosputtering of the icy rings and subsequent photoionization of O-2. The identification of the O+ and O-2(+) ions is made using time-of-flight analysis and densities and temperatures are derived from the ion counting data. The ion temperatures over the main rings are a minimum near synchronous orbit and increase with radial distance from Saturn as expected from ion pick up in Saturn's magnetic field. The O-2(+) temperatures provide an estimate of the neutral O-2 temperature over the main rings. The ion mass spectrometer also detected significant O-2(+) outside of the main rings, near the F ring. It is concluded that between the F and G rings, the heavy ion population most likely consists of an admixture of O-2(+) and water group ions O+, OH+, and H2O+

Genome sequences of five African swine fever virus genotype IX isolates from domestic pigs in Uganda

Complete genome sequences of five African swine fever virus isolates were determined directly from clinical material obtained from domestic pigs in Uganda. Four sequences were essentially identical to each other, and all were closely related to the only known genome sequence of p72 genotype IX

Genome sequences of five African swine fever virus genotype IX isolates from domestic pigs in Uganda

Complete genome sequences of five African swine fever virus isolates were determined directly from clinical material obtained from domestic pigs in Uganda. Four sequences were essentially identical to each other, and all were closely related to the only known genome sequence of p72 genotype IX

Standalone small level power systems based on utilization of agricultural residue (Benecke System)

Izael Pereira Da Silva, C.Krishnan Kutty, Samuel Baker Kucel, Nturanabo Francis - Domestic appliances and efficient energy useStand alone small level power systems as a route to low investment decentralized systems with low gestation period is a worthwhile proposition which is being considered and implemented in many third world countries. When the concept of mini-grid is associated with renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass, small-decentralized power generation systems lessen the often over-dependence on fossil fuels. Fossil fuel are used at excessively and lead to warming problem due to net carbon-dioxide transfer into the atmosphere besides being a cause of unhealthy trade balance for developing countries. This paper describes a stand alone 0.5 MVA steam powered generator system, which utilizes agricultural residues as fuel. A complete technical description of the system is given. The economic and social impact of such a set-up is also given.Stand alone small level power systems as a route to low investment decentralized systems with low gestation period is a worthwhile proposition which is being considered and implemented in many third world countries. When the concept of mini-grid is associated with renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass, small-decentralized power generation systems lessen the often over-dependence on fossil fuels. Fossil fuel are used at excessively and lead to warming problem due to net carbon-dioxide transfer into the atmosphere besides being a cause of unhealthy trade balance for developing countries. This paper describes a stand alone 0.5 MVA steam powered generator system, which utilizes agricultural residues as fuel. A complete technical description of the system is given. The economic and social impact of such a set-up is also given