First draft genome assembly of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria

Background: At the time of publication, the most devastating desert locust crisis in decades is affecting East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and South-West Asia. The situation is extremely alarming in East Africa, where Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia face an unprecedented threat to food security and livelihoods. Most of the time, however, locusts do not occur in swarms, but live as relatively harmless solitary insects. The phenotypically distinct solitarious and gregarious locust phases differ markedly in many aspects of behaviour, physiology and morphology, making them an excellent model to study how environmental factors shape behaviour and development. A better understanding of the extreme phenotypic plasticity in desert locusts will offer new, more environmentally sustainable ways of fighting devastating swarms. Methods: High molecular weight DNA derived from two adult males was used for Mate Pair and Paired End Illumina sequencing and PacBio sequencing. A reliable reference genome of Schistocerca gregaria was assembled using the ABySS pipeline, scaffolding was improved using LINKS. Results: In total, 1,316 Gb Illumina reads and 112 Gb PacBio reads were produced and assembled. The resulting draft genome consists of 8,817,834,205 bp organised in 955,015 scaffolds with an N50 of 157,705 bp, making the desert locust genome the largest insect genome sequenced and assembled to date. In total, 18,815 protein-encoding genes are predicted in the desert locust genome, of which 13,646 (72.53%) obtained at least one functional assignment based on similarity to known proteins. Conclusions: The desert locust genome data will contribute greatly to studies of phenotypic plasticity, physiology, neurobiology, molecular ecology, evolutionary genetics and comparative genomics, and will promote the desert locust’s use as a model system. The data will also facilitate the development of novel, more sustainable strategies for preventing or combating swarms of these infamous insects

Kasveissa tuotettu rokote porsaiden vieroitusripuliin

Enterotoksiset Escherichia coli-kannat (ETEC) ovat yleisiä porsas- ja sikaripulin aiheuttajia maailmanlaajuisesti. Vieroitusvaiheessa (3-5 viikon iässä) porsaiden vastustuskyky on heikoimmillaan, koska imetyksen mukana ternimaidosta saadut vasta-aineet vähenevät ja porsaiden oma vasta-aineiden tuotto on vasta alkamassa. Tällöin haitalliset suolistopatogeenit (bakteerit tai virukset) pääsevät helposti kolonisoimaan ohutsuolen ja aiheuttamaan ripulin. Ripuli aiheuttaa paitsi turhaa kärsimystä porsaille, myös tuotannon heikkenemistä kasvun hidastuessa ja ääritapauksissa porsaskuolemia. Hygienian, kasvatusolosuhteiden ja ravinnon korkea taso ovat ensisijaisen tärkeitä pyrittäessä ehkäisemään ripulisairauksien puhkeamista, mutta usein joudutaan myös turvautumaan yksittäisten eläinten rokottamiseen tai antibiootteihin. Antibioottien käyttöä pyritään nykyään yleisesti rajoittamaan, sillä niiden leviäminen ympäristöön johtaa väistämättä antibiooteille vastustuskykyisten bakteerikantojen kehittymiseen. Vieroitusripulin ehkäisemiseksi kaivataankin uusia, sekä inhimillisesti, taloudellisesti että ajankäytöllisesti parempia keinoja. Kasvibiotekniikka mahdollistaa porsaiden ripuliongelman ehkäisemisen uudella tavalla. Rehukasveissa voidaan tuottaa ns. syötäviä kasvirokotteita, jotka aktivoivat elimistön oman puolustusjärjestelmän (immuunivasteen), minkä seurauksena eläin välttyy tietyn patogeenin aiheuttamalta taudilta. Tässä työssä olemme siirtogeenitekniikan avulla tuottaneet sinimailasessa ETEC bakteerin F4 fimbrian tartuntaproteiinia (FaeG). Tämä rokoteproteiini kohdennettiin viherhiukkasiin, jolloin siirtogeeniset sinimailaset tuottivat sitä 1% liukoisesta proteiinistaan. Kasvissa tuotettu rokoteproteiini todettiin kestäväksi ja se säilyi muuttumattomana kuivatussa sinimailasmateriaalissa ainakin kahden vuoden ajan. Porsaskokeessa vierotetuille porsaille annettiin rokoteproteiinia sisältävää sinimailasta. Kasvissa tuotettu rokoteproteiini sai porsaissa aikaan heikon F4-spesifisen seerumin vastaainereaktion, jota pystyttiin vahvistamaan, kun rokoteproteiinin tehostajana käytettiin koleratoksiinia. Kun koeporsaat altistettiin patogeenisellä F4+ ETEC-kannalla, koleratoksiinilla tehostettu rokoteproteiini pystyi myös vähentämään ulosteessa erittyvien ETEC-bakteerien määrää merkittävästi verrattuna kontrolliryhmään, joka oli käsitelty ei-siirtogeenisellä sinimailasella. Tulokset osoittavat, että kasvissa tuotettu FaeG rokoteproteiini käynnistää porsaissa F4-vasta-ainetuotannon ja vähentää F4+ETEC-infektion vakavuutta

Development and Psychometric Evaluation of an Item Bank for Computerized Adaptive Testing of the EORTC Insomnia Dimension in Cancer Patients (EORTC CAT-SL)

To further advance assessment of patient-reported outcomes, the European Organisation of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Group has developed computerized adaptive test (CAT) versions of all EORTC Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) scales/items. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate an item bank for CAT measurement of insomnia (CAT-SL). In line with the EORTC guidelines, the developmental process comprised four phases: (I) defining the concept insomnia and literature search, (II) selection and formulation of new items, (III) pre-testing and (IV) field-testing, including psychometric analyses of the final item bank. In phase I, the literature search identified 155 items that were compatible with our conceptualisation of insomnia, including both quantity and quality of sleep. In phase II, following a multistep-approach, this number was reduced to 15 candidate items. Pre-testing of these items in cancer patients (phase III) resulted in an item list of 14 items, which were field-tested among 1094 patients in phase IV. Psychometric evaluations showed that eight items could be retained in a unidimensional model. The final item bank yielded greater measurement precision than the original QLQ-C30 insomnia item. It was estimated that administering two or more items from the insomnia item bank with CAT results in a saving in sample size between approximately 15–25%. The 8-item EORTC CAT-SL item bank facilitates precise and efficient measurement of insomnia as part of the EORTC CAT system of health-related quality life assessment in both clinical research and practice

Erythropoietin: a multimodal neuroprotective agent

The tissue protective functions of the hematopoietic growth factor erythropoietin (EPO) are independent of its action on erythropoiesis. EPO and its receptors (EPOR) are expressed in multiple brain cells during brain development and upregulated in the adult brain after injury. Peripherally administered EPO crosses the blood-brain barrier and activates in the brain anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory signaling in neurons, glial and cerebrovascular endothelial cells and stimulates angiogenesis and neurogenesis. These mechanisms underlie its potent tissue protective effects in experimental models of stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disease. The preclinical data in support of the use of EPO in brain disease have already been translated to first clinical pilot studies with encouraging results with the use of EPO as a neuroprotective agent

Detection and localization of early- and late-stage cancers using platelet RNA

Cancer patients benefit from early tumor detection since treatment outcomes are more favorable for less advanced cancers. Platelets are involved in cancer progression and are considered a promising biosource for cancer detection, as they alter their RNA content upon local and systemic cues. We show that tumor-educated platelet (TEP) RNA-based blood tests enable the detection of 18 cancer types. With 99% specificity in asymptomatic controls, thromboSeq correctly detected the presence of cancer in two-thirds of 1,096 blood samples from stage I–IV cancer patients and in half of 352 stage I–III tumors. Symptomatic controls, including inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, and benign tumors had increased false-positive test results with an average specificity of 78%. Moreover, thromboSeq determined the tumor site of origin in five different tumor types correctly in over 80% of the cancer patients. These results highlight the potential properties of TEP-derived RNA panels to supplement current approaches for blood-based cancer screening

Treatment protocol for unilateral cleft lip and palate patients: questioned by two case reports

BACKGROUND: The types and severity of clefts as well as palatal development and growth in children with repaired cleft lip and palate deformities can vary greatly. Independent of the technique used surgery produces scar tissue, which restricts palatal growth so that by the second decade many patients have an underdeveloped maxilla. Experience has shown that the maxillary retrognathism found in many cleft patients is not amenable to nonsurgical correction. Few long-term studies have evaluated the procedures, sequencing and timing of the treatment methods found to give the best results. This lack of reliable information means there is a serious gap in our ability to assess the value of different treatment modalities. AIMS AND METHODS: From the viewpoint of orthodontics, this article describes the treatment protocol used by the cleft lip and palate team at the University Hospitals of the KU Leuven. The present treatment protocol is illustrated and questioned by two cases. The roles of prediction of facial growth and distraction osteogenesis are discussed.status: publishe

Cranio-maxillofacial, orthodontic and dental treatment in three patients with Apert syndrome

BACKGROUND: Apert syndrome is a severe developmental malformation, clinically characterised by craniosynostosis, midface hypoplasia, a cone-shaped calvarium, ocular manifestations, typical dental findings and syndactyly of the hands and feet. Early craniosynostosis of the coronal suture, the cranial base and agenesis of the sagittal suture are prodromal characteristics for the typical craniofacial appearance in patients with Apert syndrome. CASE REPORTS: The aim of this report was to describe the maxillofacial and orthodontic management of three patients with Apert syndrome who attended the Craniofacial, Maxillofacial and Orthodontic clinics of the University Hospitals of the KU Leuven (Belgium). The typical clinical features, the general orthognathic treatment approach as well as individual approaches of three patients with Apert syndrome are being highlighted. FOLLOW-UP: The three patients with Apert syndrome have been followed up very closely by all involved specialised departments as well as by multidisciplinary teams from birth. CONCLUSION: This report demonstrated that a combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgical treatment plan could significantly improve the occlusal function as well as the facial and occlusal aesthetics in patients with Apert syndrome.status: publishe

Treatment and standard evaluation using the Peer Assessment Rating Index

The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the outcome of orthodontic treatment carried out on patients by postgraduate students at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. The treatment outcome of 292 'final examination' patients and of 287 'control' patients was compared by means of the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index. The sample consisted of dental casts representing a wide range of malocclusions at the start of treatment and post-treatment. All patients received non-surgical treatment between 1987 and 1996 by one of 18 different postgraduate students. The data were analysed with a variant of the analysis of covariance. A significantly higher (P < 0.001) treatment standard was found for final examination patients compared to the control, indicated by the mean percentage PAR score reduction of 79.1% and 70.7%, respectively. When the results are expressed in terms of treatment outcome, 44.5% of the examination patients and 44.0% of the controls were allocated to the 'Greatly improved' group, while 3.1% of the patients examined and 7.3% of the control patients were classified as 'Worse or no different'.status: publishe

Clinical problems with a double tooth and a macrodont in the maxillary anterior area: a case report

BACKGROUND: Fusion is defined as the union between dentine and/or enamel of two normally separated teeth. Gemination is the cleavage of the forming dental germ to produce two partial teeth. The distinction between the conditions is often determined by the number of teeth present. However, this can be confused if supernumerary teeth are considered. AIM: The present case report describes the treatment of a patient who presented with dental fusion and macrodontia involving both upper central incisors. Besides the central incisors displaying characteristics of macrodonts, tooth 21 also showed aspects of fusion. METHODS: Management consisted of the extraction of 11 and 21 and orthodontic mesialisation of the maxillary dentition. Treatment was planned in two phases and at the end of the orthodontic phase, the upper anterior teeth were to be reshaped using composite resin. RESULTS: Orthodontic space closure is a treatment option in the clinical management of an extracted maxillary central double and/or macrodontic tooth. As no permanent teeth were absent, it was presumed that the fusion of 21 occurred with a supernumerary tooth. CONCLUSIONS: Multidisciplinary treatment following the extraction of maxillary central incisors is reported with special attention to the orthodontic and restorative considerations required to improve the aesthetic outcome.status: publishe