Angiostrongylus costaricensis and experimental infection of Sarasinula marginata II: elimination routes

Angiostrongylus costaricensis intermediate hosts are terrestrial mollusks mostly belonging to the Veronicellidae family. In the present investigation we focused on the mechanisms of larval expulsion from Sarasinula marginata infected with A. costaricensis. Twenty-five mollusks were individually infected with 5000 L1 and sacrificed at 30 min and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h post-infection and at days 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 28, and 30 post-infection; the mollusks were then fixed and stained. Diverse organs involved throughout the course of the migratory routes of larvae from oral penetration on were specified and the mechanisms of larval access to the fibromuscular layer through the kidney, rectum, and vascular system were defined. The elimination of L3, derived from oral and/or cutaneous infections, appears to depend on granulomas located close to the excretory ducts of mucous cells.

Family, Food & Fitness

NHS Warwickshire (NHSW), Warwickshire County Council (WCC) and partners aim to reduce childhood obesity in various ways including through the provision of evidence based structured nine week family based treatment programmes. These programmes will support families with overweight and/or obese children to maintain a healthy weight using a holistic approach. Two types of programmes will run across the county: the first programme will be aimed at families with overweight and/or obese children aged 4-7 and the second programme will be aimed at families with overweight and/or obese children aged 8-13.The target group for participating in this programme is children who are overweight (as defined by > 91st percentile) or obese (as defined by > 98th percentile). Programmes will established and delivered in a variety of venues and times. Objectives: - To deliver evidence based structured family based weight management programmes across Nuneaton, Bedworth and North Warwickshire. - To recruit families with overweight and/or obese children on to programmes, targeting the areas of highest need. - To promote sustained BMI maintenance and reduction amongst overweight (as defined by > 91st percentile) and obese (as defined by < 98th percentile) children and young people aged 4-7 and 8-13. - To support positive changes in behaviour (i.e. healthy eating, physical activity, positive mental well-being) by children and family members in order to achieve and maintain healthy weight over the course of the nine week programme. - To provide families with the information, skills and confidence to maintain healthy lifestyles in the longer term, including personalised exit strategies/sustainability plans for each participant. - To signpost families to community based and leisure services activities which contribute to maintaining a healthy weight. - To evaluate all programmes using the National Obesity Observatory Standard Evaluation Framework (SEF) and to produce a written evaluation report of the programme with recommendations on how to sustain healthy weight among children and families. - To evaluate the programme using validated diet and physical activity tools as recommended by the recent Worcester University (www.ifh.westmidlands.nhs.uk for the Worcester University Report) evaluation. Deliver eight programmes across Nuneaton and Bedworth and eight programmes across North Warwickshire for children aged 4 7 years by December 2012. Deliver eight programmes across Nuneaton and Bedworth and eight programmes across North Warwickshire for children aged 8 - 13 years by December 2012. Deliver a minimum of 32 taster sessions, with at least one prior to each programme start date. Reduce childhood obesity in primary aged children and their families. Improve healthy lifestyles in primary aged children and their families through healthy eating, physical activity and positive mental well-being.

Food for Thought

Windsor Women’s Centres’ Food for Thought project provides a multi-functional inner-city green space, which facilitates activities for participants that empowers them to recognise healthy lifestyle choices. This space provides the means through which women and their families in the community can improve their environment, health and wellbeing. They also encompass a range of activities which improve the nutrition of service users from children to the elderly and will improve the physical and emotional wellbeing of their community.

Myxobolus insignis sp. n. (Myxozoa, Myxosporea, Myxobolidae), a parasite of the Amazonian teleost fish Semaprochilodus insignis (Osteichthyes, Prochilodontidae)

A new myxosporean species is described from the fish Semaprochilodus insignis captured from the Amazon River, near Manaus. Myxobolus insignis sp. n. was located in the gills of the host forming plasmodia inside the secondary gill lamellae. The spores had a thick wall (1.5-2 µm) all around their body, and the valves were symmetrical and smooth. The spores were a little longer than wide, with rounded extremities, in frontal view, and oval in lateral view. They were 14.5 (14-15) µm long by 11.3 (11-12) µm wide and 7.8 (7-8) µm thick. Some spores showed the presence of a triangular thickening of the internal face of the wall near the posterior end of the polar capsules. This thickening could occur in one of the sides of the spore or in both sides. The polar capsules were large and equal in size surpassing the midlength of the spore. They were oval with the posterior extremity rounded, and converging anteriorly with tapered ends. They were 7.6 (7-8) µm long by 4.2 (3-5) µm wide, and the polar filament formed 6 coils slightly obliquely to the axis of the polar capsule. An intercapsular appendix was present. There was no mucous envelope or distinct iodinophilous vacuole.

Annual Report of the Needle & Syringe Exchange Scheme for the period 1st April 2013 to 31st March 2014.

This report summarises data that is collected on the operation of the Northern Ireland Needle and Syringe Exchange Scheme (NSES). It relates to the twelve-month period between 1st April 2013 and 31st March 2014. The anonymised data is collected by the 14 pharmacies and 1 Trust-based service that participate in the Northern Ireland Needle and Syringe Exchange Scheme (NSES) which was introduced in April 2001.

Annual Quality Report 2014/2015

Annual quality reports are a recommendation of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety's (DHSSPS) Quality 2020: a 10 year strategy to protect and improve quality in Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland.

Biology and pathogenicity of "Chlamydia"- related organisms

Abstract : This thesis investigates the pathogenicity and biology of Parachlamydia acanthamoebae and other obligate intracellular bacteria related to chlamydiae. All these Chlamydia-like organisms replicate in amoebae. Some evolved to resist to macrophages and represent possible new agents of respiratory tract infection. Using serological and molecular approaches, we showed that Parachlamydia acanthameobae likely plays a role as an etiological agent of pneumonia [1,2]. We also showed that Parachlamydia was able to enter and survive within pneumocytes and lung fibroblasts [3]. Moreover, we developed an animal model of lung infection in mice, which fulfilled the third and fourth Koch postulate [4]. Given the likely role of Parachlamydia in pneumonia, we studied its antibiotic susceptibility. We showed that Chlamydia-related organisms were resistant to quinolones, mainly due to mutations in the QRDR of gyrA [5]. To have tools to investigate the role of other Chlamydia-related bacteria in pneumonia, we developed immunofluorescence assays and assessed the rate of serological cross-reactivity between all these Chlamydia-related bacteria [6]. We also developed new diagnostic specific PCRs [2,7] and sequenced additional genes that are useful for both taxonomic and diagnostic purposes [8]. Then, we applied these serological and molecular approaches to patients with and without respiratory tract infections. This led to the identification of a possible role of Protochlamydia naegleriophila [7] and of Waddlia chondrophila in pneumonia [1]. A significant part of the thesis also investigated interactions of Parachlamydia with macrophages [9] and the host range of Chlamydia-related bacteria [10]. In conclusion, there are growing body of evidence supporting the role of Chlamydia-like organisms as agents of pneumonia. Further studies are needed to precise their pathogenic role in this setting. The diagnostic tools developed during this thesis will be useful to investigate the role of these strict intracellular bacteria in other diseases in both humans and animals [11,12]. Résumé : Le but de cette thèse est de déterminer le rôle pathogène de Parachlamydia et des bactéries apparentées aux Chlamydia ainsi que d'étudier leur biologie. Parachlamydia acanthamoebae est une bactérie intracellulaire apparentée aux Chlamydia, et qui est résistante non seulement aux amibes mais aussi aux macrophages. Par une approche sérologique et moléculaire, nous avons montré que les bactéries apparentées aux Chlamydia jouent probablement un rôle comme agent de pneumonie [1,2]. De plus, nous avons démontré que P. acanthameobae est capable d'entrer et de survivre dans les pneumocytes et fibroblastes pulmonaires [3]. Nous avons ensuite développé un modèle animal remplissant les troisième et quatrième postulats de Koch [4]. Nous avons aussi démontré que les bactéries apparentées aux Chlamydia sont résistantes aux quinolones, en raison de mutations dans la région QRDR de gyrA [5]. Afin de mieux déterminer le rôle pathogène de ces bactéries, nous avons mis au point des techniques d' immunofluorescence et déterminé la cross-réaction sérologique entre les différentes bactéries apparentées aux Chlamydia [6]. Différentes PCR diagnostiques ont aussi été développées [2,7] et des gènes supplémentaires ont été séquencés, qui seront utiles à la taxonomie ainsi qu'au développement de nouvelles méthodes diagnostiques [8]. Ces méthodes ont été appliquées à des échantillons provenant de patient avec ou sans pneumonie et ont permis l'identification du possible rôle pathogène de Protochlamydia naegleriophila [7] et de Waddlia chondrophila [1]. L'interaction de Parachlamydia avec les macrophages [9] et la permissivité de différentes cellules aux bactéries apparentées aux Chlamydia [10] ont également été étudiés dans le cadre de cette thèse. En conclusion, plusieurs nouveaux éléments viennent renforcer l'hypothèse que les bactéries apparentées aux Chlamydia sont des agents de pneumonies. Cependant, d'autres études doivent être menées pour confirmer leur rôle dans cette maladie. Les méthodes diagnostiques développées ici seront très utiles pour déterminer le rôle pathogène de ces bactéries chez les humains et animaux [11,12]

Effect of a general school-based physical activity intervention on bone mineral content and density: A cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Background: Specific physical loading leads to enhanced bone development during childhood. A general physical activity program mimicking a real-life situation was successful at increasing general physical health in children. Yet, it is not clear whether it can equally increase bone mineral mass. We performed a cluster-randomized controlled trial in children of both gender and different pubertal stages to determine whether a school-based physical activity (PA) program during one school-year influences bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD), irrespective of gender.Methods: Twenty-eight 1st and 5th grade (6-7 and 11-12 year-old) classes were cluster randomized to an intervention (INT, 16 classes, n = 297) and control (CON; 12 classes, n = 205) group. The intervention consisted of a multi-component PA intervention including daily physical education with at least 10 min of jumping or strength training exercises of various intensities. Measurements included anthropometry, and BMC and BMD of total body, femoral neck, total hip and lumbar spine using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). PA was assessed by accelerometers and Tanner stages by questionnaires. Analyses were performed by a regression model adjusted for gender, baseline height and weight, baseline PA, post-intervention pubertal stage, baseline BMC, and cluster.Results: 275 (72%) of 380 children who initially agreed to have DXA measurements had also post-intervention DXA and PA data. Mean age of prepubertal and pubertal children at baseline was 8.7 +/- 2.1 and 11.1 +/- 0.6 years, respectively. Compared to CON, children in INT showed statistically significant increases in BMC of total body, femoral neck, and lumbar spine by 5.5%, 5.4% and 4.7% (all p < 0.05), respectively, and BMD of total body and lumbar spine by 8.4% and 7.3% (both p < 0.01), respectively. There was no gender*group, but a pubertal stage*group interaction consistently favoring prepubertal children.Conclusion: A general school-based PA intervention can increase bone health in elementary school children of both genders, particularly before puberty. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

"Crisis y calidad de vida", lema de las VI Jornadas de Salud Pública

Boletín semanal para profesionales sanitarios de la Secretaría General de Salud Pública, Inclusión y Calidad de Vida de la Consejería de Salud y Bienestar Social

Collectio sermonum de dominicis, de festis et de sanctis, ad usum Fratrum Minorum.

« Sermo adaptabillis b. Laurentio... Dispersit, dedit pauperibus... Quia secundum b. Dionixium in De ecclesiastica Yerarchia... » (1-2) ; — « Sermo de assumptione b. Marie... Quid hoc audio de te... Quid nos tantilly... » (2v-3), suivi d'une note à l'usage des prédicateurs : « Nota quod ne sermo sit deffectuosus... » (3) ; — « Sermo de conceptione b. Marie. Que est ista que progreditur... Karissimi, predicator evangelicus, beatitudinis eterne preco... » (3v-4v) ; — « Sermo de quatuor festis principalibus b. Marie... Que est ista que progreditur... Verba ista sunt tocius curie celestis... » (4v-5v) ; — « Sermo de Purificatione. In mansuetudine suscipite... Secundum b. Gregorium, Mor. 23... » (6-7) ; — « Sermo de b. Francischo... Cujus est ymago hec et superscriptio... Secundum b. Gregorium, omelia 30... » (7v-8v) ; — « Sermo in dominica [in Quinquagesima]. Ecce ascendimus Jerosolimam... Karissimi, sicut scitis, finis est... » (9-10) ; — [Sermo in dominica IIa post Epiphaniam] « Tu servasti vinum bonum usque adhuc... In verbis istis spiritualiter intellectus... » (10-10v) ; — « Sermo de b. Francischo. Ad ymaginem similitudinis sue... Verba ista ad litteram scripta... » (11-12) ; — « Sermo de b. Johane Baptista. Magnus es tu et faciens mirabilia... Secundum Gregorium quia tute... » (12v-13) ; — « Sermo de angelis. Inmittit angelus Domini... Sanctus ille David, acceptus de ovibus... » (13v-14) ; — « In ascensione Domini. Exultavit ut gigas... Duo sunt inter cetera Christi misteria... » (14v-16) ; — « De asumpcione Domine nostre. Ad preceptum tuum elevabitur aquila... Quia, karissimi, Mater Domini... » [FRANCISCUS DE MAYRONIS] ; cf. éd. Bâle, 1498, f. CIV-CIIIV, avec variantes (16v-18) ; — « De Maria Magdalena. Permittuntur [sic pro : Remittuntur] tibi peccata tua... Sicut solent maximi principes... » [Idem], sermon abrégé ; cf. éd. cit., f. LXXXVIIIV-XCI (18-19v) ; — « De s. Johane Evangelista. Dillectus meus michi... Ostenditur b. Johannes prout inflamatus... » [Idem], résumé ; cf. éd. cit., f. XXIX-XXIXV (20) ; — « In festo apostolorum Petri et Pauli. Accepimus gratiam et apostolatum... Gloriosissimi christiane fidei religionis... » (20v-23v) ; — « Sermo de gratia divina acquirenda. Accepimus gratiam etc. Vivat, obsecro, anima mea ... quoniam... » (24) ; — « Accepimus gratiam etc. Restat ostendere via physionomica... » (24v-26) ; — « Sermo de beatitudine, sive gloria celesti, sive in festo Omnium sanctorum. Fons sapientie verbum Dei... Ecce ego sto prope fontem... In hoc festo precipue et anno... » (26-29) ; — « De nativitate Domine nostre. Egredietur virga de radice Jesse... Percutiet terram virga... Clementissimus pastor ovium... » (29v-32) ; — « Sermo de uno confessore pontifice. Rector fratrum et stabilimentum populi... Inter viros eximie sanctitatis... » (32v) ; — « De nativitate Domini. Transeamus usque Bethelem... Innocencius in quodam sermone de predicatione... » (34v-36) ; — « In die nativitatis Domini. Sol ortus est et humiles exaltati sunt... Beatus Augustinus, De Civitate Dei : Anima participacione... » (36-37v) ; — « Dominica infra octavas Nativitatis. Ecce positus est hic in ruinam... Secundum doctrinam Philosophi in diversis locis... » (38-38v) ; — « Dominica quarta in quadragesima. Sequebatur eum multitudo magna... Secundum Damascenum libro primo, capitulo XV°, diversitas actionum... » (39-40v) ; — « De Canane[a], dominica secunda [sic] in quadragesima [Feria 5a post dom. Ia in XLa]. Dimitte illam quia clamat... Si attendamus ordinem generacionis... » (41-42v) ; — « Dominica de Passione. Si veritatem dico vobis... Secundum sententiam Phylosophi primo Metaphysice... » (43-43v) ; — « In cena Domini. Hodie est rex et cras morietur... Omne agens ordinate prius inquirit... » (44-45) ; — « De resurectione. Hec dies quam fecit Dominus... Scilicet est ex dictis Philosophi in diversis locis... » (45v-47) ; — « Dominica in Quadragesima. Ecce nunc tempus acceptabile... Ut dicit Philosophus, secundo de Celo et mundo... » (47-48v) ; — « De b. Clara. Sicut lux meridiana clara est... Secundum Philosophum tertio Methaphysice, si res creatas... » (48v-49v) ; — « Sermo de Cruce. Vidit mulier quod bonum esset lignum... Sicut ex doctrina Philosophi primo Ethicorum... » (50-51) ; — « De s. Anthonio. Misit servum suum hora cene... Sicut in rebus naturalibus docet experiencia... » (51v-52v) ; — « De b. Johane Batista. Tu puer propheta Altissimi... Secundum doctrinam Hugonis in commento de angelica Jerarchia... » (53-54) ; — « De b. Bertholameo [sic]. Dedit illi contra inimicos potenciam... Racio docet et experiencia manifestat... » (54v-55) ; — « De b. Francischo. Amice, ascende superius... Dicit Philosophus quinto Physicorum quod motus... » (55v-56) ; — [De b. Bernardo] « Omnia parata sunt, venite ad nupcias... Sicut videmus in motu naturali... » (56v-57) ; — « De sacerdote novo. Vos elegit Dominus... Ut potest haberi ex dictis Dyonisii... » (57v-58v) ; — « De assumpcione Virginis gloriose. Elevetur tronus David super Israel... Videmus quod triplici racione aliqua corpora... » (58v-59v) ; — « De assumpcione Virginis. Veni de Libano sponsa mea... Secundum testimonium Scripturarum et humane consuetudinis... » (59v-61) ; — « De Trinitate. Tripliciter sol exurens montes... Secundum quod dicit Philosophus, tota nostra noticia... » (61-61v) ; — « De b. Francischo. Hic beatus in facto suo erit... Post doctrinam philosophorum et experienciam... » (62-62v) ; — [De b. Eligio] « Provideat rex virum sapientem... Secundum sententiam (secundum) sapientis primo Metaphysice . » (63-64) ; — « De resurrectione Domini. Tercia dies est hodie... Tripliciter alicujus rei non vise accipimus fidem certam... » (64-65) ; — «Stetit in medio discipulorum et dixit : Pax vobis... Ut dicit b. Augustinus undevicesimo de Civitate Dei... » (65v-67) ; — « De Omnibus sanctis... Gloriosa dicta sunt de te... Aperta est civitas... Doctore egregio Bernardo scilicet attestante... » (67-69) ; — « De b. Johane Batista. Hic venit in testimonium... Sicut potest probari ex dictis Philosophi et exemplis... » (69v-70) ; — « De b. Petro apostolo. Tu pasce populum meum Israel... Secundum sententiam Philosophi tertio Politicorum... » (70v-71) ; — « De assumpcione Virginis gloriose. Transibo in locum tabernaculi... Triplici ratione secundum philosophorum doctrinam aliqua moventur... » (71v-72v) ; — [De b. Francisco] « Adolescens, tibi dico surge... Consideranti sciderum revolucionem... » (73-74v) ; — [De s. Michaele] « Michael et angeli preliabantur... Sicut ex doctrina Phylosophi in pluribus locis patet... » (74v-76) ; — « De b. Nicholao. Petra fundebat michi rivos olei... Secundum philosophicam doctrinam, diversitas effectuum... » (76-77) ; — « In festo apostolorum Petri et Pauli. Fecit Deus duo luminaria magna... Secundum sententiam Philosophi secundo Methaphysice... » (77v-78) ; — « De b. Bertholameo. Vidi angelum fortem... Secundum dictum Philosophi, omnes transferentes... » (78v-79) ; — « Dominica in Quadragesima. Ductus est Jhesus in desertum... Sicut naturalium operationum multiplex experiencia... » (79v-80v) ; — « De s. Thoma apostolo. Ecce cognovi quoniam Deus meus es... Bernardus in sermone : Deus noverim me... » (81-81v) ; — « De sacerdote novo. Misit Dominus servum suum... Secundum quod dicit Philosophus primo Ethicorum, diversarum operationum... » (82-82bis) ; — « In purificatione Virginis. Parasti ante faciem omnium populorum... Si attendamus formationem rerum temporalium... » (82bisv-83v) ; — « De uno martire. Esto vir fortis, et prelia bella Domini... Secundum consuetudinem hominum... » (84-85) ; — « De festo Purificacionis. Lucerna splendens super candelabrum... Doctrina philosophorum et tradit... » (85v-86v) ; — « Feria quarta Cinerum. Cum jejunas unge caput tuum... Morum Philosophi doctrinam perlegens et attendens... » (87-88v) ; — « In quarta feria Cinerum. Cum jejunatis, nolite fieri sicut ypocrite... Sicut ex doctrina Philosophi primo Ethicorum potest colligi... » (88v-89v) ; — « In festo b. Lodovici [episcopi]. Surrexit rex de solio suo... Ut dicit Philosophus quarto Methaphysicorum... » (90-91v) ; — « De b. Jacobo. Vox tonitrui tui in rota... Secundum doctrinam philosophicam formarum naturalium... » (91v-92v) ; — [In festo Annunciationis] « Ecce concipies in utero... Secundum doctrinam Philosophi septimo de Animalibus, ad generationem... » (93-94) ; — « De s. Ludovico [episcopo]. Reposita est michi corona justitie... Secundum sententiam Philosophi secundo Phisicorum, omne agens... » (94-96).

El II Plan Integral de Diabetes desarrolla nuevas estrategias para la detección precoz y la mejora de la atención

Boletín semanal para profesionales sanitarios de la Secretaría General de Salud Pública y Participación Social de la Consejería de Salud

The diamine oxidase gene is associated with hypersensitivity response to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the drugs most frequently involved in hypersensitivity drug reactions. Histamine is released in the allergic response to NSAIDs and is responsible for some of the clinical symptoms. The aim of this study is to analyze clinical association of functional polymorphisms in the genes coding for enzymes involved in histamine homeostasis with hypersensitivity response to NSAIDs. We studied a cohort of 442 unrelated Caucasian patients with hypersensitivity to NSAIDs. Patients who experienced three or more episodes with two or more different NSAIDs were included. If this requirement was not met diagnosis was established by challenge. A total of 414 healthy unrelated controls ethnically matched with patients and from the same geographic area were recruited. Analyses of the SNPs rs17740607, rs2073440, rs1801105, rs2052129, rs10156191, rs1049742 and rs1049793 in the HDC, HNMT and DAO genes were carried out by means of TaqMan assays. The detrimental DAO 16 Met allele (rs10156191), which causes decreased metabolic capacity, is overrepresented among patients with crossed-hypersensitivity to NSAIDs with an OR  = 1.7 (95% CI  = 1.3-2.1; Pc  = 0.0003) with a gene-dose effect (P = 0.0001). The association was replicated in two populations from different geographic areas (Pc  = 0.008 and Pc  = 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The DAO polymorphism rs10156191 which causes impaired metabolism of circulating histamine is associated with the clinical response in crossed-hypersensitivity to NSAIDs and could be used as a biomarker of response.