Evaluation of rapid diagnostic tests for assessment of hepatitis B in resource-limited settings

Chronic Hepatitis B (HBV) is the most important cause of liver disease worldwide. There is a need for low-cost tests to aid in diagnosis and management of HBV infection in resource-limited settings. We evaluated the utility of several rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) in three different continents (Europe, South America, Africa). The HBsAg RDT showed optimal sensitivity and specificity. The anti-HBeAb RDT showed acceptable sensitivity and excellent specificity. Our results suggest that these RDTs could be used for screening and management of HBV.Fil: Leathers, James S.. Uc Davis School Of Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Pisano, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; ArgentinaFil: Ré, Viviana Elizabeth. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Van Oord, Gertine. Erasmus MC. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Países BajosFil: Sultan, Amir. Addis Ababa University; EtiopíaFil: Boonstra, Andre. Erasmus MC. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Países BajosFil: Debes, Jose D.. University of Minnesota; Estados Unidos. Erasmus MC. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Países Bajo

Validation of a point-of-care rapid diagnostic test for hepatitis C for use in resource-limited settings

Treatment of HCV with direct-acting antivirals has enabled the discussion of HCV eradicationworldwide. Envisioning this aim requires implementation of mass screening in resource-limited areas, usuallyconstrained by testing costs. We validated a low-cost, rapid diagnosis test (RDT) for HCV in three different continents in 141individuals. The HCV RDT showed 100% specificity and sensitivity across different samples regardless of genotypeor viral load (in samples with such information, 90%). The HCV test validated in this study can allow for HCV screening in areas of need when properly used.Fil: Leathers, James S.. Vanderbilt University; Estados UnidosFil: Pisano, María Belén. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ré, Viviana Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología; ArgentinaFil: van Oord, Gertine. Erasmus Medical Center; Países BajosFil: Sultan, Amir. Addis Ababa University; EtiopíaFil: Boonstra, Andre. Erasmus Medical Center; Países BajosFil: Debes, Jose D.. Universidad de Minnesota; Estados Unido

3rd Annual Federal Practice Institute

Outline of speakers\u27 presentations from the 3rd Annual Federal Practice Institute held by UK/CLE on September 23, 1988

Reunifying from behind bars: A quantitative study of the relationship between parental incarceration, service use, and foster care reunification

Incarcerated parents attempting to reunify with their children in foster care can find it difficult to complete the activities on their court-ordered case plans, such as drug treatment services and visitation with children. Although much has been written regarding the obstacles that are likely to interfere with reunification for incarcerated parents, very little quantitative research has examined the topic. This study uses secondary data to examine the incarceration experiences and reunification outcomes of a sample of 225 parents in one large urban California county. In multivariate analysis controlling for problems and demographics, incarcerated parents were less likely to reunify with their children; however, service use appeared to mediate this relationship, as the negative association between incarceration and reunification did not persist when service use was included as a variable in the model. Suggestions are made for policy and practice changes to improve reunification outcomes for this population of parents.

The differential effects of concurrent planning practice elements on reunification and adoption

Objective: The child welfare practice of concurrent planning attempts to shorten children\u27s stays in foster care. There is very little quantitative research on concurrent planning\u27s effects. This study examines the influence of concurrent planning practice elements (reunification prognosis, concurrent plan, full disclosure, and discussion of voluntary relinquishment) on reunification and adoption. Method: Using a sample of 885 children, an observational design, and statistical controls, children who received concurrent planning elements were compared to those who did not. Results: Findings show discussion of voluntary relinquishment to be positively associated with adoption and full disclosure to be negatively associated with reunification. Conclusions: Concurrent planning\u27s benefits may require more intensive services to be fully realized. Care should be taken to ensure activities achieve their intended effects

Step-wise formation of eukaryotic double-row polyribosomes and circular translation of polysomal mRNA

The time course of polysome formation was studied in a long-term wheat germ cell-free translation system using sedimentation and electron microscopy techniques. The polysomes were formed on uncapped luciferase mRNA with translation-enhancing 5′ and 3′ UTRs. The formation of fully loaded polysomes was found to be a long process that required many rounds of translation and proceeded via several phases. First, short linear polysomes containing no more than six ribosomes were formed. Next, folding of these polysomes into short double-row clusters occurred. Subsequent gradual elongation of the clusters gave rise to heavy-loaded double-row strings containing up to 30–40 ribosomes. The formation of the double-row polysomes was considered to be equivalent to circularization of polysomes, with antiparallel halves of the circle being laterally stuck together by ribosome interactions. A slow exchange with free ribosomes and free mRNA observed in the double-row type polysomes, as well as the resistance of translation in them to AMP-PNP, provided evidence that most polysomal ribosomes reinitiate translation within the circularized polysomes without scanning of 5′ UTR, while de novo initiation including 5′ UTR scanning proceeds at a much slower rate. Removal or replacements of 5′ and 3′ UTRs affected the initial phase of translation, but did not prevent the formation of the double-row polysomes during translation