Post Mortem Inquiry - Progress Report To The Minister for Health and Children

The Inquiry is of the view that the Terms of Reference are wide ranging and comprehensive. The issue of organ retention is not one which may be examined properly in isolation and involves consideration of many issues,  most notably the legal context within which the matters arise. The issue is one which needs to be seen in its proper context so that it may be properly and fully understood. Progress Report Addendum to Progress Report

Enzymic, phylogenetic, and structural characterization of the unusual papain-like protease domain of Plasmodium falciparum SERA5.

Serine repeat antigen 5 (SERA5) is an abundant antigen of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and is the most strongly expressed member of the nine-gene SERA family. It appears to be essential for the maintenance of the erythrocytic cycle, unlike a number of other members of this family, and has been implicated in parasite egress and/or erythrocyte invasion. All SERA proteins possess a central domain that has homology to papain except in the case of SERA5 (and some other SERAs), where the active site cysteine has been replaced with a serine. To investigate if this domain retains catalytic activity, we expressed, purified, and refolded a recombinant form of the SERA5 enzyme domain. This protein possessed chymotrypsin-like proteolytic activity as it processed substrates downstream of aromatic residues, and its activity was reversed by the serine protease inhibitor 3,4-diisocoumarin. Although all Plasmodium SERA enzyme domain sequences share considerable homology, phylogenetic studies revealed two distinct clusters across the genus, separated according to whether they possess an active site serine or cysteine. All Plasmodia appear to have at least one member of each group. Consistent with separate biological roles for members of these two clusters, molecular modeling studies revealed that SERA5 and SERA6 enzyme domains have dramatically different surface properties, although both have a characteristic papain-like fold, catalytic cleft, and an appropriately positioned catalytic triad. This study provides impetus for the examination of SERA5 as a target for antimalarial drug design.

Report of the Working Group on Post Mortem Practice

The Madden Report into Post Mortem Practice and Procedure (2005)1 stated that consideration should be given to the implementation of the recommendations made in the Report to other post mortems2, namely those carried out on babies who died before or during birth, minors and adults. It was acknowledged that while many of the recommendations in the Report may apply generically to all categories of post-mortem examinations, these post mortems also raise distinct legal and ethical issues that were not within the Terms of Reference of the Madden Report. The Report advised that a Working Group be established to ensure that appropriate adaptation in relation to those issues takes place. The terms of reference were: Read the report (PDF, 117kb)

Post-adopció i resiliència: l'ajust psicosocial i vivència de l'adopció en infants adoptats internacionalment

Antecedents. Cada cop són més els nens i nenes adoptats internacionalment que creixen en la nostra societat, i el seu ajust psicosocial s’ha convertit en un assumpte d’especial interès i rellevància. Objectius. Estudiar l'ajust psicosocial i la vivència de l'adopció en els infants adoptats internacionalment. Els objectius específics són: 1) estudiar els nivells d’adaptació personal i social en nens i nenes adoptats/des internacionalment, en comparació amb els estàndards de la població normativa; 2) estudiar la vivència de l’adopció en nens i nenes adoptats internacionalment i la percepció que mares i pares en tenen al respecte; 3) analitzar el paper de las variables estrés i estratègies d’afrontament en l’ajust psicosocial dels infants adoptats. Material i Mètode. La mostra està formada per 103 infants adoptats a l’estranger, d’entre 8 i 12 anys, i els seus respectius pares i mares. Els participants completaren les següents proves: BASC (Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC; Reynolds & Kamphaus, 1992), Qüestionari de punts forts i febles (SDQ; Goodman, 1997, 1999), Escala de la vivència adoptiva (Reinoso, 2008), Kidcope (Spirito, Stara y Williams, 1988). En realitzen anàlisis estadístics de tipus descriptiu, comparatiu, correlacional i exploratori. Resultats. La majoria dels menors adoptats internacionalment presenta bons nivells de funcionament, si bé un 25% d’ells presenta dificultats adaptatives bàsiques. En general s’observa un elevat nivell de convergència en la visió de l’experiència adoptiva entre nens/es i mares i pares. Els infants puntuen més alt en identitat cultural i més baix en discriminació percebuda que els seus pares/mares. Principalment esmenten problemes interpersonals de relació i de salut, malalties i accidents i utilitzen predominantment estratègies d’afrontament aproximatives. Els estressors vinculats amb l’experiència adoptiva són escassament mencionats. Conclusions. L’especificitat de la condició adoptiva requereix d’intervencions ajustades a la realitat d’aquests les necessitats d’aquests nens i les seves families.

Cosecha y post-cosecha de nueces

La mecanización integral de la cosecha se reduce todavía a un número limitado de explotaciones, aunque cada día son más las plantaciones en las que se utilizan vibradores en la cosecha. La utilización de cosechadoras está reservada a explotaciones superiores a las 20 ha y se suele recurrir a vibradores de ramas mientras los árboles no alcanzan la envergadura de adultos. Una correcta cosecha se suelen realizar en dos pasadas y en pocas explotaciones se utilizan productos para la maduración artificial. Prácticamente la mayoría de las nuevas plantaciones de nogal disponen de sistemas de secado y acondicionado de las nueces, los productores son conscientes de la importancia del tratamiento de post-cosecha que, sin duda, marca la calidad final de la producción y con ella el precio de la nuez. En la misma explotación las nueces son peladas, lavadas, secadas y muy habitualmente calibradas y envasadas. Las nueces se secan entre 10-12% bh. en cáscara, y hasta 5-6% bh. en grano, utilizando secadores de aire insuflado por la base, los tradicionales de ‘falso fondo’ son los más habituales.

Renograma 99mTc Post-Captoprilen la valoración de la hipertensión vásculo-renal en pacientes portadores de injerto renal.

Objectiu: Descripció de la metodologia del renograma isotòpic basal/postcaptopril (RIB/P) en pacients portadors de empelt renal amb sospita de malaltia vasculo-renal (MVR). Material i mètodes: Es va realitzar en 44 pacients trasplantats renals un renograma basal i 48 hores després un renograma postcaptopril administrant 25 mg de captopril v.o i realitzant una adquisició 30 minuts després. Resultats: Dels 44 estudis 6 van ser positius, constatant-se MVR per angio-TC i 38 van ser negatius tractats posteriorment amb IECAs o ARAII i no van mostrar alteracions significatives del funcionalisme renal. Conclusions: El RIB/P es una eina útil para determinar MVR en pacients amb empelt renal i hipertensió arterial.

Report of Dr Deirdre Madden on Post Mortem Practice and Procedures

This Report aims to set out the general facts in relation to paediatric post-mortem practice in Ireland from 1970 to 2000, the way in which information was communicated to parents of deceased children in relation to post-mortemexaminations, and how these practices might be improved upon for the future Read the Report  

Ultrasound monitoring of structural urinary tract disease in Schistosoma haematobium infection

A major advance in our understanding of the natural history of Schistosoma haematobium-related morbidity has come through the introduction of the portable ultrasound machines for non-invasive examination of the kidneys and bladder. With the use of generators or battery packs to supply power in non-clinical field settings, and with the use of instant photography or miniaturized thermal printers to record permanent images, it is possible to examine scores of individuals in endemic communities every day. Broad-based ultrasound screening has allowed better definition of age-specific disease risks in urinary schistosomiasis. Results indicate that urinary tract abnormalities are common (18% overall prevalence) in S. haematobium transmission areas, with a 2-4% risk of either severe bladder abnormality or advanced ureteral obstruction. In longitudinal surveys, ultrasound studies have shown that praziquantel and metrifonate therapy are rapidly effective in reversing urinary tract abnormalities among children. The benefits of treating adults are less well known, but research in progress should help to define this issue. Similarly, the prognosis of specific ultrasound findings needs to be clarified, and the ease of sonographic examination will make such long-term follow-up studies feasible. In summary, the painless, quick, and reproducible ultrasound examination has become an essential tool in the study of urinary schistosomiasis.

Diffusion spectrum imaging shows the structural basis of functional cerebellar circuits in the human cerebellum in vivo.

BACKGROUND: The cerebellum is a complex structure that can be affected by several congenital and acquired diseases leading to alteration of its function and neuronal circuits. Identifying the structural bases of cerebellar neuronal networks in humans in vivo may provide biomarkers for diagnosis and management of cerebellar diseases. OBJECTIVES: To define the anatomy of intrinsic and extrinsic cerebellar circuits using high-angular resolution diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI). METHODS: We acquired high-resolution structural MRI and DSI of the cerebellum in four healthy female subjects at 3T. DSI tractography based on a streamline algorithm was performed to identify the circuits connecting the cerebellar cortex with the deep cerebellar nuclei, selected brainstem nuclei, and the thalamus. RESULTS: Using in-vivo DSI in humans we were able to demonstrate the structure of the following cerebellar neuronal circuits: (1) connections of the inferior olivary nucleus with the cerebellar cortex, and with the deep cerebellar nuclei (2) connections between the cerebellar cortex and the deep cerebellar nuclei, (3) connections of the deep cerebellar nuclei conveyed in the superior (SCP), middle (MCP) and inferior (ICP) cerebellar peduncles, (4) complex intersections of fibers in the SCP, MCP and ICP, and (5) connections between the deep cerebellar nuclei and the red nucleus and the thalamus. CONCLUSION: For the first time, we show that DSI tractography in humans in vivo is capable of revealing the structural bases of complex cerebellar networks. DSI thus appears to be a promising imaging method for characterizing anatomical disruptions that occur in cerebellar diseases, and for monitoring response to therapeutic interventions.

Fonctions du plancher pelvien: de la phase expulsive à la consultation du post-partum [Pelvic floor functions: from the beginning of the second phase of labor to the postpartum consultation].

Vaginal delivery can cause lesions of the various pelvic structures responsible for the mechanisms of continence. These lesions may perhaps be prevented in the future by measuring pressure generated during childbirth. Tear of the anal sphincter during childbirth is a marker of a global impairment of the urinary, ano-rectal and sexual pelvic functions in the short and medium term. Persistence of a defect of the anal sphincter is frequent in spite of immediate suture. The correlation between these defects and ano-rectal incontinence are not established in our experience. The quality of the contraction of the sphincter complex and pubo-rectal sling seems to play a more important role in ano-rectal continence after a traumatic childbirth.

Bucumap: Buscador unificat de cursos, màsters i post-graus

Desenvolupar una aplicació web en Java j2ee, i més concretament un cercador de formacions.

Functional and structural basis for a bacteriophage homolog of human RAD52.

In eukaryotes, homologous recombination proteins such as RAD51 and RAD52 play crucial roles in DNA repair and genome stability. Human RAD52 is a member of a large single-strand annealing protein (SSAP) family [1] and stimulates Rad51-dependent recombination [2, 3]. In prokaryotes and phages, it has been difficult to establish the presence of RAD52 homologs with conserved sequences. Putative SSAPs were recently found in several phages that infect strains of Lactococcus lactis[4]. One of these SSAPs was identified as Sak and was found in the virulent L. lactis phage ul36, which belongs to the Siphoviridae family [4, 5]. In this study, we show that Sak is homologous to the N terminus of human RAD52. Purified Sak binds single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) preferentially over double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and promotes the renaturation of long complementary ssDNAs. Sak also binds RecA and stimulates homologous recombination reactions. Mutations shown to modulate RAD52 DNA binding [6] affect Sak similarly. Remarkably, electron-microscopic reconstruction of Sak reveals an undecameric (11) subunit ring, similar to the crystal structure of the N-terminal fragment of human RAD52 [7, 8]. For the first time, we propose a viral homolog of RAD52 at the amino acid, phylogenic, functional, and structural levels.