Archival influenza virus genomes from Europe reveal genomic variability during the 1918 pandemic

The 1918 influenza pandemic was the deadliest respiratory pandemic of the 20th century and determined the genomic make-up of subsequent human influenza A viruses (IAV). Here, we analyze both the first 1918 IAV genomes from Europe and the first from samples prior to the autumn peak. 1918 IAV genomic diversity is consistent with a combination of local transmission and long-distance dispersal events. Comparison of genomes before and during the pandemic peak shows variation at two sites in the nucleoprotein gene associated with resistance to host antiviral response, pointing at a possible adaptation of 1918 IAV to humans. Finally, local molecular clock modeling suggests a pure pandemic descent of seasonal H1N1 IAV as an alternative to the hypothesis of origination through an intrasubtype reassortment.Peer Reviewe

Relationship between intratumoral expression of genes coding for xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and benefit from adjuvant tamoxifen in estrogen receptor alpha-positive postmenopausal breast carcinoma

INTRODUCTION: Little is known of the function and clinical significance of intratumoral dysregulation of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme expression in breast cancer. One molecular mechanism proposed to explain tamoxifen resistance is altered tamoxifen metabolism and bioavailability. METHODS: To test this hypothesis, we used real-time quantitative RT-PCR to quantify the mRNA expression of a large panel of genes coding for the major xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes (12 phase I enzymes, 12 phase II enzymes and three members of the ABC transporter family) in a small series of normal breast (and liver) tissues, and in estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-negative and ERα-positive breast tumors. Relevant genes were further investigated in a well-defined cohort of 97 ERα-positive postmenopausal breast cancer patients treated with primary surgery followed by adjuvant tamoxifen alone. RESULTS: Seven of the 27 genes showed very weak or undetectable expression in both normal and tumoral breast tissues. Among the 20 remaining genes, seven genes (CYP2A6, CYP2B6, FMO5, NAT1, SULT2B1, GSTM3 and ABCC11) showed significantly higher mRNA levels in ERα-positive breast tumors than in normal breast tissue, or showed higher mRNA levels in ERα-positive breast tumors than in ERα-negative breast tumors. In the 97 ERα-positive breast tumor series, most alterations of these seven genes corresponded to upregulations as compared with normal breast tissue, with an incidence ranging from 25% (CYP2A6) to 79% (NAT1). Downregulation was rare. CYP2A6, CYP2B6, FMO5 and NAT1 emerged as new putative ERα-responsive genes in human breast cancer. Relapse-free survival was longer among patients with FMO5-overexpressing tumors or NAT1-overexpressing tumors (P = 0.0066 and P = 0.000052, respectively), but only NAT1 status retained prognostic significance in Cox multivariate regression analysis (P = 0.0013). CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these data point to a role of genes coding for xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in breast tumorigenesis, NAT1 being an attractive candidate molecular predictor of antiestrogen responsiveness

Social support and Quality of Life: a cross-sectional study on survivors eight months after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake resulted in extensive loss of life and physical and psychological injuries for survivors. This research examines the relationship between social support and health-related quality of life for the earthquake survivors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A multistage cluster sampling strategy was employed to select participants from 11 shelters in nine counties exposed to different degrees of earthquake damage, for a questionnaire survey. The participants were asked to complete the Short Form 36 and the Social Support Rating Scale eight months after the earthquake struck. A total of 1617 participants returned the questionnaires. The quality of life of the survivors (in the four weeks preceding the survey) was compared with that of the general population in the region. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and canonical correlation analysis were performed to determine the association between social support and quality of life.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The earthquake survivors reported poorer quality of life than the general population, with an average of 4.8% to 19.62% reduction in scores of the SF-36 (p < 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that those with stronger social support were more likely to have better quality of life. The canonical correlation analysis found that there was a discrepancy between actual social support received and perceived social support available, and the magnitude of this discrepancy was inversely related to perceived general health (rs = 0.467), and positively related to mental health (rs = 0.395).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Social support is associated with quality of life in the survivors of the earthquake. More attention needs to be paid to increasing social support for those with poorer mental health.</p

Different tool training induces specific effects on body metric representation

Morphology and functional aspects of the tool have been proposed to be critical factors modulating tool use-induced plasticity. However, how these aspects contribute to changing body representation has been underinvestigated. In the arm bisection task, participants have to estimate the length of their own arm by indicating its midpoint, a paradigm used to investigate the representation of the metric properties of the body. We employed this paradigm to investigate the impact of different actions onto tool embodiment. Our findings suggest that a training requiring actions mostly with proximal (shoulder) or distal (wrist) parts induces a different shift in the perceived arm midpoint. This effect is independent of, but enhanced by, the use of the tool during the training and in part influenced by specific demands of the task. These results suggest that specific motor patterns required by the training can induce different changes of body representation, calling for rethinking the concept of tool embodiment, which would be characterized not simply by the morphology of the tools, but also by the actions required for their specific use

Experimentally induced rhinosinusitis in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop an experimental rhinosinusitis model by using bacteria-added absorbable material for temporary ostial obstruction. METHOD: Absorbable gelatin sponge was inserted between the endoturbinals and the ostium of the sinus. In the first group, the effects of surgical procedure and Gelfoam on ostial mucosa were examined macroscopically. In the second group Gelfoam was moistened with Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923). The sinuses of rabbits were examined by coronal com puted tomography before each surgical procedure and sacrifice. The animals were sacrificed at the first, second, fourth eighth, and tenth weeks. Histologic and microbiologic examinations were performed. RESULTS: In the first group, fibrotic bands and adhesions were observed between the ostium of the maxillary sinus and the endoturbinals in the first and second week. In the second group, a thick purulent discharge that invariably filled the sinuses of the inoculated side was seen after the first week of induction, and opacity, which was determined radiologically, did not disappear until the end of the study. CONCLUSION: In this study, an experimental rhinosinusitis model was accomplished. It is currently believed that obstruction of the ostium with mucosal edema, polyps, or tumour leads to maxillary sinusitis. In this model, the pathogenesis of human sinusitis was imitated by temporary occlusion of the ostium with bacteria-added Gelfoam. This model can be used in further studies to explore the role of the ostium in the pathogenesis of sinusitis

Experimental sinusitis in nasally catheterised rabbits.

AIM: The aim of the study was to create an experimental rabbit model for investigating the effects of nasal catheterization on rhinosinus mucosa, bacterial flora and observing the development of bacterial sinusitis. METHODS: Healthy adult white rabbits of either sex and with body weights of 2.5-3 kg were used. Rabbits were randomly separated into two groups; the first group was catheterized by 12 French and the second group was catheterized by 8 French catheters blindly and the non-catheterized left sides were accepted as control. Three randomly chosen rabbits from each group were examined by computerized tomography scans (CT) and sacrified in the first, second and the fourth week of the study. Microbiological and histopathological examinations were performed. RESULTS: In both study groups after the first week of nasal catheterization, opacity or air-fluid level was detected in maxillary sinuses by CT scans, which was significant in group 1. Inflammation spread by the prolongation of nasal catheterization and rapidly development of sinusitis was observed by thicker catheters' usage. CONCLUSION: In this study, the role of nasal catheterization as a predisposing factor in the development of sinusitis and the increase of sinusitis development risk in relation with the catheterization period and the catheters' thickness was shown

Total phenolics and antioxidant activity of jujube (Zizyphus jujube Mill.) genotypes selected from Turkey

We determined the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of methanol extracts from fifteen selected jujube genotypes endogenous to the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Total phenolic contentof the fruits was analyzed by Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method, while the total antioxidant activity was analyzed using the -carotene bleaching, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenil-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity (DPPH) assays. The highest total phenolic content was observed in MHS 6 and MHS 7 genotypes (42 and 40 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) g-1 dryweight (DW)), while the lowest content was found in MHS 5 and MHS 14 (28 and 25 mg GAE g-1 DW). MHS 13 was among the genotypes with the highest antioxidant capacity in all three methods tested (1237 ìmol g-1 in FRAP, 83% in -carotene bleaching method and 99% in DPPH). The present study demonstrates the potential value of jujube genotypes for pharmaceuticals and nutrition