Diagnostic assays for leprosy based on T-cell epitopes.

To date, only a limited number of antigens have been described as specific for Mycobacterium leprae, and in many cases, homologues have subsequently been shown to exist in mycobacteria such as M. avium and M. intracellulare. A Leprosy Synthetic Peptide Skin Test Initiative was established by the Steering Committee on the Immunology of Mycobacteria of the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, to investigate the potential of synthetic peptides that encode T-cell epitopes as diagnostic tools, which could be used to develop a skin-test reagent specific for leprosy. Such M. leprae-specific peptides should have unique amino acid sequences, or significant sequence-dissimilarity from those in other mycobacteria. Synthetic peptides, 15 amino acids long, were synthesised from 33 genes or open reading frames within the M. leprae genome. Tuberculoid leprosy patients from four leprosy-endemic countries, Brazil, Ethiopia, Nepal and Pakistan, were tested as subjects known to have been infected with M. leprae, and to make good T-cell responses to antigens of M. leprae; UK blood donors were used as non-exposed or non-infected subjects. Peptides inducing potentially specific responses in leprosy patients and not in UK controls, and those inducing cross-reaction responses, present in both leprosy patients and non-exposed, non-infected controls, were identified. A difference from the equivalent M. tuberculosis sequence of five or more amino acid residues did not, by itself, identify peptides that were M. leprae-specific, suggesting that many of these peptides may have homologues in environmental mycobacteria. To date, this approach has identified a number of peptides with greater than 90% specificity and 19-47% sensitivity, which are undergoing further specificity-testing. Such peptides would have great potential as T-cell reagents with which to monitor exposure to M. leprae within communities, formulated either as skin-test reagents, or as antigens for tests in vitro

Understanding the Potential of a Short-Term Participatory Video Project for Long-Term Change

Participatory video (PV) allows communities to explore issues of concern by making short videos. PV has been used in public health research by focusing the topic of video-making on a specific health issue in order to both raise awareness of this issue and to support communities to effect change with regard to this issue. Although evaluations of PV-in-health approaches yield positive findings in terms of community empowerment, it is difficult to measure changes in behaviour regarding the focal topic. This is important in the context of public health, as the impact of an intervention often determines its future usage. This study discusses a rare opportunity to consider the longer-term impacts of a PV project on the topic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Thematic analysis of a focus group discussion conducted with six PV participants demonstrates a retention of accurate knowledge about AMR over two years after original engagement. Participants reported changes in their own attitudes and practices around antibiotic and pesticide use, and described how they advocate for behaviour change in their wider communities. Findings also speak to the legacy of PV. While over time, videos may have impact through being viewed by others, participation in the project was also shown to have lasting legacy. Participants developed knowledge and changed attitudes on the topic, which continues to impact their behaviour. Beyond having co-produced the videos, participants are now experts in the video topic, and as such their opinions and actions represent a distinct, measurable impact of the PV process

TGF-b Superfamily Cytokine MIC-1/GDF15 Is a Physiological Appetite and Body Weight Regulator

The TGF-b superfamily cytokine MIC-1/GDF15 circulates in all humans and when overproduced in cancer leads to anorexia/cachexia, by direct action on brain feeding centres. In these studies we have examined the role of physiologically relevant levels of MIC-1/GDF15 in the regulation of appetite, body weight and basal metabolic rate. MIC-1/GDF15 gene knockout mice (MIC-1−/−) weighed more and had increased adiposity, which was associated with increased spontaneous food intake. Female MIC-1−/− mice exhibited some additional alterations in reduced basal energy expenditure and physical activity, possibly owing to the associated decrease in total lean mass. Further, infusion of human recombinant MIC-1/GDF15 sufficient to raise serum levels in MIC-1−/− mice to within the normal human range reduced body weight and food intake. Taken together, our findings suggest that MIC-1/GDF15 is involved in the physiological regulation of appetite and energy storage

Archival data on wild food plants used in Poland in 1948

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In 1948, Professor Józef Gajek initiated a detailed census of the wild edible plants used in Poland. The questionnaires were collected by correspondents of the Polish Folklore Society in 95 localities throughout Poland. A major part of these archival materials, including a substantial collection of herbarium specimens, had not undergone thorough analysis prior to this study, which presents a quantitative analysis of this archival set of data.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Herbarium specimens were identified and a database was created.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ninety-eight taxa identified to genus or species level, including 71 botanical species, identified using herbarium specimens, were found. On average only 11 edible plant species per locality were listed, the longest list included 39 species. No correlation between latitude and the number of edible species was found, whereas there was small but significant correlation with the longitude. Fruits were the most frequently collected part of plants. Most plants were primarily collected by women and children. Children both helped parents to collect wild fruits and also ate many species raw, which were not consumed by adults, but had often been eaten in the past. Eighteen of the taxa had not been reported in a recent comprehensive review of edible plants of Poland. <it>Stratiotes aloides</it>, used as a famine vegetable in the Łódź region, has never been reported as edible in any ethnobotanical literature.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results undermine the conclusions of a recent comprehensive review of edible plants of Poland, which stated that many more wild edible plants have been collected in the Carpathians than in lowland Poland. However such results were shown to be caused by the substantially larger number of ethnographic studies undertaken in the Carpathians. In fact, large numbers of edible plant species were collected in the mid-20^thcentury in a few regions, particularly along the eastern border, in the Carpathians and in communities originating from the expanded Soviet Union, which had been resettled to the north-west of Poland in 1945.</p

Effect of Molybdenum Incorporation on the Structure and Magnetic Properties of Cobalt Ferrite

We report on the effect of molybdenum (Mo) incorporation on the crystal structure, surface morphology, Mo chemical valence state, and magnetic properties of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4, referred to CFO). Molybdenum incorporated cobalt ferrite (CoFe2–xMoxO4, referred to CFMO) ceramics were prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction method by varying the Mo concentration in the range of x = 0.0–0.3. X-ray diffraction studies indicate that the CFMO materials crystallize in inverse spinel cubic phase. Molybdenum incorporation induced lattice parameter increase from 8.322 to 8.343 Å coupled with a significant increase in density from 5.4 to 5.7 g/cm3 was evident in structural analyses. Scanning electron microscopy imaging analyses indicate that the Mo incorporation induces agglomeration of particles leading to larger particle size with increasing x(Mo) values. Detailed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analyses indicate the increasing Mo content with increasing x from 0.0 to 0.3. XPS confirms that the chemistry of Mo is complex in these CFMO compounds; Mo ions exist in the lower oxidation state (Mo4+) for higher x while in a mixed chemical valence state (Mo4+, Mo5+, Mo6+) for lower x values. From the temperature-dependent magnetization, the samples show ferrimagnetic behavior including the pristine CFO. From the isothermal magnetization measurements, we find almost 2-fold decrease in coercive field (Hc) from 2143 to 1145 Oe with the increase in Mo doping up to 30%. This doping-dependent Hc is consistently observed at all the temperatures measured (4, 100, 200, and 300 K). Furthermore, the saturation magnetization estimated at 4 K and at 1.5 T (from M–H loops) goes through a peak at 92 emu/g (at 15% Mo doping) from 81 emu/g (pristine CFO), and starts decreasing to 79 emu/g (at 30% Mo doping). The results demonstrate that the crystal structure, microstructure, and magnetic properties can be tuned by controlling the Mo-content in the CFMO materials.</p

Effect of Molybdenum Incorporation on the Structure and Magnetic Properties of Cobalt Ferrite

We report on the effect of molybdenum (Mo) incorporation on the crystal structure, surface morphology, Mo chemical valence state, and magnetic properties of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4, referred to CFO). Molybdenum incorporated cobalt ferrite (CoFe2–xMoxO4, referred to CFMO) ceramics were prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction method by varying the Mo concentration in the range of x = 0.0–0.3. X-ray diffraction studies indicate that the CFMO materials crystallize in inverse spinel cubic phase. Molybdenum incorporation induced lattice parameter increase from 8.322 to 8.343 Å coupled with a significant increase in density from 5.4 to 5.7 g/cm3 was evident in structural analyses. Scanning electron microscopy imaging analyses indicate that the Mo incorporation induces agglomeration of particles leading to larger particle size with increasing x(Mo) values. Detailed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analyses indicate the increasing Mo content with increasing x from 0.0 to 0.3. XPS confirms that the chemistry of Mo is complex in these CFMO compounds; Mo ions exist in the lower oxidation state (Mo4+) for higher x while in a mixed chemical valence state (Mo4+, Mo5+, Mo6+) for lower x values. From the temperature-dependent magnetization, the samples show ferrimagnetic behavior including the pristine CFO. From the isothermal magnetization measurements, we find almost 2-fold decrease in coercive field (Hc) from 2143 to 1145 Oe with the increase in Mo doping up to 30%. This doping-dependent Hc is consistently observed at all the temperatures measured (4, 100, 200, and 300 K). Furthermore, the saturation magnetization estimated at 4 K and at 1.5 T (from M–H loops) goes through a peak at 92 emu/g (at 15% Mo doping) from 81 emu/g (pristine CFO), and starts decreasing to 79 emu/g (at 30% Mo doping). The results demonstrate that the crystal structure, microstructure, and magnetic properties can be tuned by controlling the Mo-content in the CFMO materials

SEROPREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH NEOSPORA CANINUM IN DAIRY CATTLE OF WESTERN DAIRY POCKET AREA IN CHITWAN DISTRICT OF NEPAL

Dairy industry is growing in Nepaland western dairy pocket area is the main milk producing area in Chitwan district. This study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with N. caninum in western dairy pocket area in Chitwan district of Nepal. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2014 to July 2014 among the small holder dairy farms, and out of 2188 animals from different sampling villages, 186 (8.5%) animals were randomly selected. Individual blood samples (5-10 ml) were collected and screened for N. caninum antibodies by ELISA test kit. The study showed that apparent overall prevalence of N. caninum to be 4.84% and true prevalence, 4.07%. The prevalence varied from a low of 0% to a high of 13.16% in various VDCs. The prevalence rates among Holstein-Friesian cross and Jersey cross Cattle were 6.94% and 3.51% respectively. The seroprevalence of N. caninum was found to be 16.13% and 2.5% in animals with and without history of abortion respectively, showed statistically significant different (p value &lt;0.05). Similarly, prevalence were 13.64% and 3.66% in animals with and without presence of dog respectively and 8.5%, 3.39% and 0% in the  animals of age group of 3-5 years, 1-3 years and above 5 years respectively, showed statistically non-significant association (p value &lt;0.05). This study shows that N. caninum is associated with abortion in dairy cattle of Chitwan region. The study may contribute the base line data of N. caninum in Nepal for future preventive strategy for stake-holders and government.</jats:p

TGF-b Superfamily Cytokine MIC-1/GDF15 Is a Physiological Appetite and Body Weight Regulator

The TGF-b superfamily cytokine MIC-1/GDF15 circulates in all humans and when overproduced in cancer leads to anorexia/cachexia, by direct action on brain feeding centres. In these studies we have examined the role of physiologically relevant levels of MIC-1/GDF15 in the regulation of appetite, body weight and basal metabolic rate. MIC-1/GDF15 gene knockout mice (MIC-1&#8722;/&#8722;) weighed more and had increased adiposity, which was associated with increased spontaneous food intake. Female MIC-1&#8722;/&#8722; mice exhibited some additional alterations in reduced basal energy expenditure and physical activity, possibly owing to the associated decrease in total lean mass. Further, infusion of human recombinant MIC-1/GDF15 sufficient to raise serum levels in MIC-1&#8722;/&#8722; mice to within the normal human range reduced body weight and food intake. Taken together, our findings suggest that MIC-1/GDF15 is involved in the physiological regulation of appetite and energy storage