Comparison of five diagnostic methods for detecting bovine viral diarrhea virus infection in calves

Five diagnostic techniques performed on skin biopsies (shoulder region) and/or serum were compared for detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus infection in 224 calves 0-3 months of age, 23 calves older than 3 months but younger than 7 months, and 11 cattle older than 7 months. The diagnostic methods used were immunohistochemistry (IHC), 2 commercial antigen ELISAs, 1 commercial antibody ELISA, and real-time RT-PCR. Results of 249 out of 258 skin and serum samples were identical and correlated within the 3 antigen detection methods and the real-time RT-PCR used. Twenty-six of these 249 samples were BVDV-positive with all antigen detection methods and the real-time RT-PCR. Nine out of 258 samples yielding discordant results were additionally examined by RT-PCR, RT-PCR Reamplification (ReA), and antigen ELISA I on serum and by immunohistochemistry on formalin fixed and paraffin-embedded skin biopsies. Virus isolation and genotyping was performed as well on these discordant samples. In 3 cases, transiently infected animals were identified. Two samples positive by real-time RT-PCR were interpreted as false positive and were ascribed to cross-contamination. The antigen ELISA II failed to detect 2 BVDV-positive calves due to the presence of maternal antibodies; the cause of 2 false-positive cases in this ELISA remained undetermined. Only persistently infected animals were identified in skin samples by IHC or antigen ELISA I. The 3 antigen detection methods and the real-time RT-PCR used in parallel had a high correlation rate (96.5%) and similar sensitivity and specificity values.

Development and simultaneous application of multiple care protocols in critical care: a multicenter feasibility study

OBJECTIVE: To test the feasibility of and interactions among three software-driven critical care protocols. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Intensive care units in six European and American university hospitals. PATIENTS: 174 cardiac surgery and 41 septic patients. INTERVENTIONS: Application of software-driven protocols for cardiovascular management, sedation, and weaning during the first 7 days of intensive care. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: All protocols were used simultaneously in 85% of the cardiac surgery and 44% of the septic patients, and any one of the protocols was used for 73 and 44% of study duration, respectively. Protocol use was discontinued in 12% of patients by the treating clinician and in 6% for technical/administrative reasons. The number of protocol steps per unit of time was similar in the two diagnostic groups (n.s. for all protocols). Initial hemodynamic stability (a protocol target) was achieved in 26+/-18 min (mean+/-SD) in cardiac surgery and in 24+/-18 min in septic patients. Sedation targets were reached in 2.4+/-0.2h in cardiac surgery and in 3.6 +/-0.2h in septic patients. Weaning protocol was started in 164 (94%; 154 extubated) cardiac surgery and in 25 (60%; 9 extubated) septic patients. The median (interquartile range) time from starting weaning to extubation (a protocol target) was 89 min (range 44-154 min) for the cardiac surgery patients and 96 min (range 56-205 min) for the septic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple software-driven treatment protocols can be simultaneously applied with high acceptance and rapid achievement of primary treatment goals. Time to reach these primary goals may provide a performance indicator.

Development of an ultrasound-guided technique for pudendal nerve block in cat cadavers.

The objective of this prospective experimental cadaveric study was to develop an ultrasound-guided technique to perform an anaesthetic pudendal nerve block in male cats. Fifteen fresh cadavers were used for this trial. A detailed anatomical dissection was performed on one cat in order to scrutinise the pudendal nerve and its ramifications. In a second step, the cadavers of six cats were used to test three different ultrasonographic approaches to the pudendal nerve: the deep dorso-lateral, the superficial dorso-lateral and the median transperineal. Although none of the approaches allowed direct ultrasonographical identification of the pudendal nerve branches, the deep dorso-lateral was found to be the most advantageous one in terms of practicability and ability to identify useful and reliable landmarks. Based on these findings, the deep dorso-lateral approach was selected as technique of choice for tracer injections (0.1 ml 1% methylene blue injected bilaterally) in six cat cadavers distinct from those used for the ultrasonographical study. Anatomical dissection revealed a homogeneous spread of the tracer around the pudendal nerve sensory branches in all six cadavers. Finally, computed tomography was performed in two additional cadavers after injection of 0.3 ml/kg (0.15 ml/kg per each injection sites, left and right) contrast medium through the deep dorso-lateral approach in order to obtain a model of volume distribution applicable to local anaesthetics. Our findings in cat cadavers indicate that ultrasound-guided pudendal nerve block is feasible and could be proposed to provide peri-operative analgesia in clinical patients undergoing perineal urethrostomy.

Casting materials and their application in research and teaching

From a biological point of view, casting refers to filling of anatomical and/or pathological spaces with extraneous material that reproduces a three-dimensional replica of the space. Casting may be accompanied by additional procedures such as corrosion, in which the soft tissue is digested out, leaving a clean cast, or the material may be mixed with radiopaque substances to allow x-ray photography or micro computed topography (µCT) scanning. Alternatively, clearing of the surrounding soft tissue increases transparency and allows visualization of the casted cavities. Combination of casting with tissue fixation allows anatomical dissection and didactic surgical procedures on the tissue. Casting materials fall into three categories namely, aqueous substances (India ink, Prussian blue ink), pliable materials (gelatins, latex, and silicone rubber), or hard materials (methyl methacrylates, polyurethanes, polyesters, and epoxy resins). Casting has proved invaluable in both teaching and research and many phenomenal biological processes have been discovered through casting. The choice of a particular material depends inter alia on the targeted use and the intended subsequent investigative procedures, such as dissection, microscopy, or µCT. The casting material needs to be pliable where anatomical and surgical manipulations are intended, and capillary-passable for ultrastructural investigations.

Zur Kenntnis von Aphelenchus ormerodis Ritzema Bos.

Von Dr. Kati Marcinowski

Zur Biologie und Morphologie von Cephalobus elongatus de Man und Rhadbitis brevispina Claus, nebst Bemerkungen über einige andere Nematodenarten

Von Kati Marcinowski

Combatiendo el estigma

Presentación en la 3ra Conferencia Subregional Andina. Lima, Perú, 5 de Noviembre de 2015

Mutations in the nebulin gene associated with autosomal recessive nemaline myopathy

The congenital nemaline myopathies are rare hereditary muscle disorders characterized by the presence in the muscle fibers of nemaline bodies consisting of proteins derived from the Z disc and thin filament. In a single large Australian family with an autosomal dominant form of nemaline myopathy, the disease is caused by a mutation in the α-tropomyosin gene TPM3. The typical form of nemaline myopathy is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, the locus of which we previously assigned to chromosome 2q21.2-q22. We show here that mutations in the nebulin gene located within this region are associated with the disease. The nebulin protein is a giant protein found in the thin filaments of striated muscle. A variety of nebulin isoforms are thought to contribute to the molecular diversity of Z discs. We have studied the 3′ end of the 20.8-kb cDNA encoding the Z disc part of the 800-kDa protein and describe six disease-associated mutations in patients from five families of different ethnic origins. In two families with consanguineous parents, the patients were homozygous for point mutations. In one family with nonconsanguineous parents, the affected siblings were compound heterozygotes for two different mutations, and in two further families with one detected mutation each, haplotypes are compatible with compound heterozygosity. Immunofluorescence studies with antibodies specific to the C-terminal region of nebulin indicate that the mutations may cause protein truncation possibly associated with loss of fiber-type diversity, which may be relevant to disease pathogenesis.

Cloning and characterization of a third human lysyl hydroxylase isoform

Lysyl hydroxylase (EC 1.14.11.4), a homodimer, catalyzes the formation of hydroxylysine in collagens. Recently, an isoenzyme termed lysyl hydroxylase 2 has been cloned from human sources [M. Valtavaara, H. Papponen, A.-M. Pirttilä, K. Hiltunen, H. Helander and R. Myllylä (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 6831–6834]. We report here on the cloning of a third human lysyl hydroxylase isoenzyme, termed lysyl hydroxylase 3. The cDNA clones encode a 738 amino acid polypeptide, including a signal peptide of 24 residues. The overall amino acid sequence identity between the processed human lysyl hydroxylase 3 and 1 polypeptides is 59%, and that between the processed lysyl hydroxylase 3 and 2 polypeptides is 57%, whereas the identity to the processed Caenorhabditis elegans polypeptide is only 45%. All four recently identified critical residues at the catalytic site, two histidines, one aspartate, and one arginine, are conserved in all these polypeptides. The mRNA for lysyl hydroxylase 3 was found to be expressed in a variety of tissues, but distinct differences appear to exist in the expression patterns of the three isoenzyme mRNAs. Recombinant lysyl hydroxylase 3 expressed in insect cells by means of a baculovirus vector was found to be more soluble than lysyl hydroxylase 1 expressed in the same cell type. No differences in catalytic properties were found between the recombinant lysyl hydroxylase 3 and 1 isoenzymes. Deficiency in lysyl hydroxylase 1 activity is known to cause the type VI variant of the Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, and it is therefore possible that deficiency in lysyl hydroxylase 3 activity may lead to some other variant of this syndrome or to some other heritable connective tissue disorder.

University of Michigan Field Hockey Team, 1997

Top Row (left to right in line): Julie Flachs, Jeanne Shin, Ashley Thomas, Ashley Reichenbach, (18) Kati Oates, Courtney Reid, Lindsay Babbitt, (24) Aimee Remigio, Erica Widder, (5) Amy Philbrook, (38) Amy Helber, (22) Sandra Cabrera, (8) Regan Wolfsberg, (69) Erika Lorensond, (12), Meredith Weinstein, (21) Shelley Johnson

Left Corner: (3) Kelli Gannon, Jocelyn LaFace, (4) Tamra Geryk

Right Corner: (13) Loveita Wilkinson, (19) Sasha Dunlop

University of Michigan Field Hockey Team, 1998

Front Row (Sitting): Amy Philbrook

Row 2: Stephanie Sackellars, Kelli Gannon, Jessie Veith, Laura Stinson

Row 3: Ali Balmer, Jeanne Shin, Erica Widder, Ashley Reichenbach, Elizabeth Martin

Row 4: Adrienne Voutta, Sasha Dunlop, Lindsay Babbitt, Tamra Geryk, Loveita Wilkinson, Ashley Thomas

Top Row: Erika Lorenson, Kati Oakes, Regan Wulfsberg, Courtney Reid, Catherine Foreman, Maureen Tasch

Languaging the worker:globalized governmentalities in/of language in peripheral spaces

In the introduction to the special issue “Languaging the worker: globalized governmentalities in/of language in peripheral spaces”, we take up the notion of governmentality as a means to interrogate the complex relationship between language, labor, power and subjectivity in peripheral multilingual spaces. Our aim here is to argue for the study of governmentality as a viable and growing approach in critical sociolinguistic research. As such, in this introduction, we first discuss key concepts germane to our interrogations, including the notions of governmentality, languaging, peripherality and language worker. We proceed to map out five ethnographically and discourse-analytically informed case studies. These examine diverse actors in different settings pertaining to the domain of work. Finally we chart how the case studies construe the issue of languaging the worker through a governmentality frame.

Evaluation of Mobile Telephone Text Message Reminders for People with Antipsychotic Medication

Nonadherence to treatment is a worldwide problem among people with severe mental disorders. Patient treatment adherence may be supported with simple reminding methods e.g. text message reminders. However, there is limited evidence of its benefits. Intervention evaluation is essential in mHealth research. Therefore, this evaluative study was conducted. This study aimed to evaluate text message reminder use in encouraging patients’treatment adherence among people with antipsychotic medication. The data were collected between September 2011 and December 2013. First, a systematic literature review revealed that text message reminders were widely used in healthcare. However, its impacts were conflicting. Second, a sub-sample (n = 562) analysis showed that patients preferred humorous text message reminders and preferred to receive them in the morning, at the beginning of the week. Age, gender and marital status seemed to have different effects on the preferred amount and timing of the selected reminders. Third, a cross-sectional survey revealed that people with antipsychotic medication (n = 408) expressed overall satisfaction towards the reminder system. Finally, the evaluative design showed that patient recruitment for a randomized controlled trial concerning people with antipsychotic medication was challenging due to low rates of eligible participants. Follow-up drop-out rates varied depending on the data collection method. Participants’ demographic characteristics were associated with the risk of dropping out from the trial. This study suggests that text messages are a potential reminder system in healthcare services among people with antipsychotic medication. More research is needed to gain a comprehensive picture of the impacts and effectiveness of text message reminders.

J. R. R. Tolkienin teoksen The Hobbit kahden eri suomennoksen erisnimien vertailu

Tämän tutkielman tutkimuskohteena ovat J. R. R. Tolkienin teoksen The Hobbit (1937) erisnimet ja niiden käännökset kahdessa eri suomennoksessa. Suomennokset ovat Risto Pitkäsen Lohikäärmevuori (1973) ja Kersti Juvan Hobitti (1985). Tutkimuksessa selvitetään, millaisia käännösstrategioita suomentajat ovat käyttäneet erisnimien kääntämiseen ja eroaako strategioiden käyttö eri erisnimiluokkien välillä. Lisäksi tutkimuksessa selvitetään, säilyvätkö erisnimien funktiot ja merkitykset käännöksissä. Tutkimus on empiirinen ja kvalitatiivinen. Analyysin apuna käytettiin vakiintunutta käännösstrategialuokittelua. Tutkimuksen tuloksista käy ilmi, että koko teosten osalta kummassakin suomennoksessa on erisnimien kääntämiseen useimmin käytetty käännöstä ja korvaamista. Suurin ero suomentajien välillä on ollut lainan ja osalainan käytössä, sillä Juva on käyttänyt näitä huomattavasti useammin kuin Pitkänen. Erisnimiluokkien välillä ei ollut kovin suuria eroja. Juva on käyttänyt lainaa useammin henkilönnimissä kuin paikannimissä, kun taas Pitkänen on suosinut korvaamista useammin henkilönnimissä kuin paikannimissä. Suomentajat ovat useimmiten säilyttäneet erisnimien alkuperäiset funktiot käännöksissään. Eniten vaihtelua oli identifioivan, deskriptiivisen ja fiktionaalistavan funktion osalta. Funktion siirtymiseen vaikutti muun muassa, oliko erisnimi yksi- vai moniosainen. Moniosaisen erisnimen funktio säilyi yleisesti ottaen useammin kuin yksiosaisen. Erisnimien merkitysten tutkiminen osoitti, että jos alkuperäisen nimen merkitys ei ollut säilynyt käännöksessä, nimi oli joko saanut uuden merkityksen, jo olemassa ollut merkitys oli muuttunut tai jokin alkuperäinen merkitys oli hävinnyt käännetystä nimestä. Pitkäsen käännöksissä oli useammin uusia merkityksiä kuin Juvalla, hävinneitä merkityksiä oli kummallakin vain muutamia ja muuttuneita merkityksiä oli kummankin käännöksissä. Erisnimien merkitykset olivat suurimmaksi osaksi kuitenkin säilyneet samoina kuin lähdeteoksessa. Käännösstrategioiden valinnalla ei ollut suoraa yhteyttä erisnimien funktioiden tai merkitysten säilymiseen poistoa ja osapoistoa lukuun ottamatta.