Early childhood lung function is a stronger predictor of adolescent lung function in cystic fibrosis than early Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection

Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been suggested as a major determinant of poor pulmonary outcomes in cystic fibrosis (CF), although other factors play a role. Our objective was to investigate the association of early childhood Pseudomonas infection on differences in lung function in adolescence with CF

Meer dan werk:Het terugdringen van recidive en het bevorderen van re-integratie bij veelplegers in leer-werkprojecten

Een kleine groep criminelen blijft veelvuldig terugvallen in crimineel gedrag (veelplegers). Het is lastig om de vicieuze cirkel van criminaliteit te doorbreken bij deze doelgroep. Echter zien we een opkomst van re-integratieprojecten die werk combineren met leren en persoonlijke ontwikkeling, die er wel in slagen om deze doelgroep te bereiken en te ondersteunen bij hun re-integratie en persoonlijk herstel. Hoe? Dat hebben we onderzocht. In dit overzicht presenteren we 6 unieke werkzame ingrediënte

Niets zal werken, totdat jij dat doet! Ervaringen van veelplegers binnen eigentijdse werk-leerprojecten.:Bevindingen onderzoeksproject Be a barista

Een kleine groep criminelen blijft veelvuldig terugvallen in crimineel gedrag, dit zijn veelplegers. Het is voor veelplegers lastig om de vicieuze cirkel van criminaliteit te doorbreken. Door de opkomst vaneigentijdse werk-leerprojecten lijkt hier echter verandering in te komen. Deze projecten zijn gericht op het combineren van werk met leren en op persoonlijke ontwikkeling. De motivatie voor persoonlijk herstel en re-intergatie lijkt te groeien. Dit sluit aan bij de nieuwste wetenschappelijke inzichten uit de literatuur over de rol van motivatie bij re-integratie en kan ons veel leren over de praktijktoepassing hiervan. Twintig veelplegers zijn gevolgd in hun re-integratietraject, waarbij het perspectief van deze veelplegers onderzocht is

Incidence of maternal Toxoplasma infections in pregnancy in Upper Austria, 2000-2007

Sagel U, Krämer A, Mikolajczyk RT. Incidence of maternal Toxoplasma infections in pregnancy in Upper Austria, 2000-2007. BMC Infectious Diseases. 2011;11(1): 348.UNLABELLED: ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Despite three decades of prenatal screening program for toxoplasmosis in Austria, population-based estimates for the incidence of maternal infections with Toxoplasma gondii during pregnancy are lacking. We studied the incidence of primary maternal infections during pregnancy in the Federal State of Upper Austria. METHODS: Screening tests for 63,416 women and over 90,000 pregnancies (more than 84.5% of pregnancies in the studied region) in the time period between 01.01.2000 and 31.12.2007 were analysed. The incidence of toxoplasmosis was estimated indirectly by binomial and directly by interval censored regression. RESULTS: During the studied period, 66 acute infections (risk of 0.07% per pregnancy) were detected, but only 29.8% of seronegative women were tested at least three times during their pregnancies. The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies among all tested women was 31%. Indirectly estimated incidence (from differences in prevalence by age) was 0.5% per pregnancy, while directly estimated incidence (interval censored regression) was 0.17% per pregnancy (95% confidence interval: 0.13-0.21%). CONCLUSIONS: Calculating incidence from observed infections results in severe underreporting due to many missed tests and potential diagnostic problems. Using statistical modelling, we estimated primary toxoplasmosis to occur in 0.17% (0.13-0.21%) of all pregnancies in Upper Austria

Feasibility of Using a Caribbean Screwworm for SIT Campaigns in Brazil

The screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), remains one of the most damaging parasites of livestock in South America, causing millions of dollars in annual losses to producers. Recently, South American countries demonstrated interest in controlling this pest using the Sterile Insect Technique, and a pilot-project was conducted near the Brazil-Uruguay border in 2009. Since molecular studies have suggested the existence of C. hominivorax regional groups, crossing tests were conducted to evaluate mating competitiveness, mating preference and reproductive compatibility between a C. hominivorax strain from the Caribbean (Jamaica-06) and one from Brazil. Mating rates between Jamaican males and Brazilian females ranged between 82 and 100%, and each male inseminated from 3.3 to 3.95 females. Sterile males, regardless of the strain, competed equally against the fertile males for Brazilian females. Jamaican sterile males and Brazilian fertile males mated randomly with fertile or sterile females. No evidence of genetic incompatibility or hybrid dysgenesis was found in the hybridization crosses. Mating barriers should not compromise the use of Jamaican sterile males for Sterile Insect Technique campaigns in Brazil.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP

Cytoplasmic “ciliary inclusions” in isolation are not sufficient for the diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia

Background: The diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is difficult and requires a combination of clinical features, nasal nitric oxide testing, cilia ultrastructural analysis by electron microscopy (EM), and genetics. A recently described cytoplasmic ultrastructural change termed “ciliary inclusions” was reported to be diagnostic of PCD; however, no supporting evidence of PCD was provided. In this study, we sought to confirm, or refute, the diagnosis of PCD in subjects with “ciliary inclusions” on EM. Methods: Six subjects from five families with previous lab reports of “ciliary inclusions” on EMs of ciliated cells were identified and evaluated at a Genetic Disorders of Mucociliary Clearance Consortium site. We performed a detailed clinical history, nasal nitric oxide measurement, genetic testing including whole-exome sequencing (WES), and when possible, repeat ciliary EM study. Results: Only one of six subjects had multiple and persistent clinical features congruent with PCD. No subject had situs inversus. Only one of six subjects had a very low nasal nitric oxide level. No “ciliary inclusions” were found in three subjects who had a repeat ciliary EM, and ciliary axonemal ultrastructures were normal. Genetic testing, including WES, was negative for PCD-causing genes, and for pathogenic variants in gene pathways that might cause “ciliary inclusions,” such as ciliary biogenesis. Conclusion: “Ciliary Inclusions”, in isolation, are not sufficient to diagnosis PCD. If seen, additional studies should be done to pursue an accurate diagnosis

Clinical Features and Associated Likelihood of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia in Children and Adolescents

Rationale: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a genetically heterogeneous, recessive disorder of motile cilia, is associated with distinct clinical features. Diagnostic tests, including ultrastructural analysis of cilia, nasal nitric oxide measurements, and molecular testing for mutations in PCD genes, have inherent limitations