The leukocyte chemotactic factor (LCF) is a proinflammatory cytokine and natural soluble ligand to the human CD4 molecule. LCF is produced by CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and is considered essential to the influx of CD4+ T lymphocytes and macrophages into an inflammatory lesion. In order to investigate the role of LCF in the multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion, we have used a synthetic gene to express LCF in E. coli and have produced monoclonal antibodies against LCF. Monoclonal antibodies are suited to demonstrate LCF in ELISAs. Western blots and paraffin-embedded tissue sections. In the MS lesion, immunopositive lymphocytes and microglial cells, notably, have been found. This is the first demonstration that LCF is present in MS lesions. Immunostaining of microglial cells is noteworthy, as these cells are strategically placed regulatory elements of CNS immunosurveillance and like other cells of the monocytic lineage express CD4 molecules. Thus, LCF might be a paracrine factor regulating T-lymphocyte chemoattraction and an autocrine molecule regulating microglial cell immune reactivity.

Nitroglycerin (TNG) causes a prolonged dilatation of coronary collaterals. To demonstrate a functional significance of this dilatation we measured the effect of TNG on myocardial contractile force in dogs 2(1/2)-4 wk after the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) had been embolized in closed-chest animals. Development of collaterals was documented by angiography. Via a left thoracotomy the main left coronary artery (LCA) and LAD distal to the embolized plug were cannulated. Coronary flow and perfusion pressure were recorded. Contractile force was measured with gauges sutured to epicardial areas supplied by the left circumflex coronary artery (LCf) and occluded LAD. Coronary perfusion pressure in the LCA was gradually decreased until the contractile force recorded by the LAD gauge diminished while the LCf gauge was unaffected. Under these conditions, with coronary perfusion pressure held constant with the aid of a Starling resistance, TNG (18 mug) injected into the LCA increased peripheral LAD pressure by 3-12 mm Hg and contractile force in the LAD region by 36% (range 20-90%), returning it to near-normal levels, while having minimal effect in the LCf area. These changes persisted for 5 min. When LCf and LAD areas were both ischemic, intracoronary TNG had minimal effect on peripheral LAD pressure and contractile force. Thus, TNG causes prolonged dilatation of coronary collaterals and presumed increased collateral flow with subsequent enhancement of myocardial contractile force in ischemic areas. This effect is seen only when ischemia is limited to an area supplied by the collaterals. When the whole heart is ischemic, collaterals are unresponsive to TNG, suggesting that these collaterals dilate fully when the regions from which they originate become ischemic.

This paper analyzes the impact of sequencing rules on the phase I post anesthesia care unit (PACU) staffing and over-utilized operating room (OR) time resulting from delays in PACU admission. The sequencing rules are applied to each surgeon's list of cases independently. Discrete event simulation shows the importance of having a sufficient number of PACU nurses. Sequencing rules have a large impact on the maximum number of patients receiving care in the PACU (i.e., peak of activity). Seven sequencing rules are tested, over a wide range of scenarios. The largest effect of sequencing was on the percentage of days with at least one delay in PACU admission. The best rules are those that smooth the flow of patients entering in the PACU (HIHD (Half Increase in OR time and Half Decrease in OR time) and MIX (MIX OR time)). We advise against using the LCF (Longest Cases First) and equivalent sequencing methods. They generate more over-utilized OR time, require more PACU nurses during the workday, and result in more days with at least one delay in PACU admission.

BACKGROUND

Plasmodium falciparum accounts for approximately 60% of malaria cases in Ethiopia and artemether-lumefantrine has been used as a first-line treatment for uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria since 2004. The aim of this study was to assess the therapeutic efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in north-western Ethiopia.

METHODS

A 28-day one-arm, prospective evaluation of the clinical and parasitological response to the first-line treatment for uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria was conducted in Enfranze Health Centre in accordance with the 2009 WHO efficacy study guidelines. Patients were treated with a 3-day course of AL and clinical and parasitological parameters were monitored over a 28-day follow-up. All data from recruited patients were imported into an electronic data base and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used for analysing primary [early treatment failures (ETF), late clinical failure (LCF), late parasitological failures (LPF), and adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR)] and secondary (PCT, GCT and FCT) outcomes.

RESULTS

Eighty patients were enrolled and all of them completed the 28-day follow-up period. The PCR-corrected cure rate was 95.0% (95% CI 87.0-98.4%) and there were two ETF, one LCF and three LPF. Two of the LPF were classified as re infections by PCR. Seventy three point seven five percent, 91.25 and 95% of patients had cleared their parasitaemia by days 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and 75, 91.25 and 96.25% of patients had cleared their fever by days 1, 2, and 3. All patients completely cleared their gametocytes by day 7.

CONCLUSIONS

The relatively high cure rate, low proportion of patients still positive on day 3 as well as parasite clearance times in this study would indicate no imminent threat of artemisinin resistance development in the region. However, the threat of spreading or de novo development of artemisinin resistance warrants regular monitoring of drug efficacy throughout the region.

At present, a naturally occurring soluble ligand for CD4 has not been well described. There is much evidence to indicate that MHC class II molecules can bind to CD4; however, binding of intact class II molecules under physiologic conditions has been difficult to demonstrate. We investigated whether a previously reported human lymphokine, lymphocyte chemoattractant factor (LCF), which was described for its effects on human CD4+ lymphocytes and monocytes, could associate directly with CD4 and induce the generation of second messengers. In the present study, we demonstrate that CD4 affinity-purified natural and recombinant LCF induced a rise in intracellular calcium and increased inositol trisphosphate generation in normal human CD4+ lymphocytes and murine T cell hybridomas infected to express human CD4. Cell lines lacking human CD4 or expressing human CD4 molecules that lack the intracytoplasmic domain did not demonstrate a change in either calcium or inositol trisphosphate. The effect of LCF was blocked by coincubation with either anti-CD4 antibody or Fab fragments from anti-CD4 antibody. These studies demonstrate direct interaction of a lymphokine with CD4 and generation of second messengers as a result of the interaction.

The present study examines the extent to which attentional biases in contamination fear commonly observed in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are specific to disgust or fear cues, as well as the components of attention involved. Eye tracking was used to provide greater sensitivity and specificity than afforded by traditional reaction time measures of attention. Participants high (HCF; n = 23) and low (LCF; n = 25) in contamination fear were presented with disgusted, fearful, or happy faces paired with neutral faces for 3 s trials. Evidence of both vigilance and maintenance-based biases for threat was found. The high group oriented attention to fearful faces but not disgusted faces compared to the low group. However, the high group maintained attention on both disgusted and fearful expressions compared to the low group, a pattern consistent across the 3 s trials. The implications of these findings for conceptualizing emotional factors that moderate attentional biases in contamination-based OCD are discussed.

The cellular content of T-lymphocyte-rich inflammatory sites is dependent in part on the in situ elaboration of chemoattractant factors. We have previously described three T-lymphocyte-specific chemoattractant lymphokines; a chemokinetic factor, lymphocyte chemoattractant factor (LCF, MW 56,000), and two distinct lymphocyte migration inhibitory factors (LyMIF75K, MW 75,000; and LyMIF35K, MW 35,000). These factors are produced by human T cells in response to antigen, concanavalin A, or histamine stimulation. In this communication, we report that LCF and LyMIF35K are produced by OKT8+ (suppressor/cytotoxic) and OKT4+ (helper/inducer) lymphocytes, respectively, and are selectively chemoattractant for the OKT4+ lymphocyte subset. LyMIF75K is produced by OKT4+ cells and inhibits both OKT4+ and OKT8+ lymphocyte migration. Production of LCF and LyMIF35K by infiltrating lymphocyte subsets may be one mechanism whereby unactivated helper/inducer T lymphocytes are selectively recruited to sites of inflammation.

The ability to predict the amyloidogenicity of certain light chains may facilitate an earlier diagnosis of AL amyloidosis and, possibly, lead to more effective treatment. Using current methods, available in clinical chemistry laboratories, we assessed the class, the relative molecular mass (Mr) and the isoelectric point of urinary monoclonal light chains from 35 patients with AL amyloidosis (A+) and 51 without amyloidosis (A-). The light chain class (LCC) was lambda in 77% and 45% of A+ and A- patients, respectively. Light chain fragments (LCF) with low Mr (12-18 x 10(3) were detected in the urine of 30/35 A+ patients and in 15/51 A- ones. The mean (SD) isoelectric point (pI) of A+ light chains was 4.8 (1.1) while in A- patients it was 6.2 (1.6). Univariate analysis showed significant differences between the two groups for the three parameters. Discriminant analysis gave a function which allowed a correct allocation of 81% of the cases between the two groups.

OBJECTIVE

In the pancreas, myofibroblasts (MFBs) were shown to play an important role in the cellular response during inflammation and injury. However, there is only fragmentary information concerning the fate of these cells in pancreas regeneration and fibrosis development.

METHODS

Explant cultures of rat pancreatic tissue were used as a model to follow cellular dynamics and phenotype conversion of pancreatic MFBs in vitro. For detailed biochemical analyses a pancreatic fibroblast cell line (long culture fibroblast (LCF)) was generated from MFBs in a long term culture. Cerulein induced acute pancreatitis and dibutyltin dichloride induced pancreas fibrosis were used as experimental models for acute and chronic fibrogenic reactions, respectively.

RESULTS

In the explant culture, pancreatic MFBs which derived from fat storing fibroblastic cells underwent apoptosis or converted again to fibroblasts. The phenotype switch to fibroblasts was associated with translocation of p21(Cip1/WAF1) from the nucleus into the cytoplasm. Molecular analyses in LCFs revealed subsequent binding to and inhibition of the activities of Rho kinase 2 and apoptosis signal regulating kinase 1. In the experimentally established pancreas fibrosis, fibroblasts with cytoplasmic expression of p21(Cip1/WAF1) were distributed throughout fibrotic bands whereas in experimental acute pancreatitis MFBs with nuclear expression of p21(Cip1/WAF1) dominated.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that pancreatic MFBs are transient and suggest that intracellular localisation of p21(Cip1/WAF1) can contribute to the phenotype conversion of these cells to fibroblasts in culture and experimental injury.

Spinal cord cell cultures contain several types of neurons. Two methods are described for enriching such cultures with motoneurons (defined here simply as cholinergic cells that are capable of innervating muscle). In the first method, 7-day embryonic chick spinal cord neurons were separated according to size by 1 g velocity sedimentation. It is assumed that cholinergic motoneurons are among the largest cells present at this stage. The spinal cords were dissociated vigorously so that 95-98% of the cells in the initial suspension were isolated from one another. Cells in leading fractions (large cell fractions: LCFs) contain about seven times as much choline acetyltransferase (CAT) activity per unit cytoplasm as do cells in trailing fractions (small cell fractions: SCFs). Muscle cultures seeded with LCFs develop 10-70 times as much CAT as cultures seeded with SCFs and six times as much CAT as cultures seeded with control (unfractionated) spinal cord cells. More than 20% of the large neurons in LCF-muscle cultures innervate nearby myotubes. In the second method, neurons were gently dissociated from 4-day embryonic spinal cords and maintained in vitro. This approach is based on earlier observations that cholinergic neurons are among the first cells to withdraw form the mitotic cycle in the developing chick embryo (Hamburger, V. 1948. J. Comp. Neurol. 88:221-283; and Levi-Montalcini, R. 1950. J. Morphol. 86:253-283). 4-Day spinal cord-muscle cultures develop three times as much CAT as do 7-day spinal cord-muscle plates, prepared in the same (gentle) manner. More than 50% of the relatively large 4-day neurons innervate nearby myotubes. Thus, both methods are useful first steps toward the complete isolation of motoneurons. Both methods should facilitate study of the development of cholinergic neurons and of nerve-muscle synapse formation.

Selectivity of nuclear probes is controlled by competitive accumulation of the probe by cellular organelles as well as the high affinity for nucleic acids. Physicochemical features of probes which favor nucleic acid binding include cationic character and a planar aromatic system above a minimum size. Features of probes which permit entry into cells are low protein and lipid binding. Features which reduce accumulation in non-nuclear sites include high base strength and hydrophilicity of the cation. The overall quantitative structure-activity (QSAR) model specifying nuclear accumulation may be expressed as follows: CBN<40; 8>log P (neutral species)>0; AI<8; Z>0; -5<log P (cation)<0; pK ( a )>10; <em>LCF</em>)17; <em>LCF</em>/CBN>0.70 (where CBN is the conjugated bond number, log P (x )the logarithm of the water-octanol partition coefficient of species x, AI the amphilicity index, Z the electric charge, pK ( a ) the negative logarithm of the equilibrium constant for the free base-protonated base reaction, and <em>LCF</em> the largest conjugated fragment). Preliminary applications of the QSAR model--to the selection of anticancer drugs, minimization of dye and drug toxicity and the designed synthesis of fluorescent probes-are outlined.

This study was aimed to evaluate anti-inflammatory effect of the whole body cryostimulation in obese men. Fourteen subjects (BMI >30 kg m(-2)), divided into two subgroups according to cardiorespiratory fitness: higher (HCF) or lower (LCF), have been exposed to 10 sessions in a cryogenic chamber (-110 °C). Blood samples were collected before, 30 min and 24 h after the first, fifth and last cryostimulation. Coldness exposures affected blood cytokine profile; however, the response depended on subjects' fitness capacity. Concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the LCF decreased by 19, 6.8, and 7.4 % in IL-6, resistin, and visfatin, respectively. TNFα in the LCF dropped 4.3-fold compared to baseline, while in the HCF, changes were smaller, yet significant. Anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 increased in both groups. No changes in adiponectin and leptin were observed in either group. Obtained results suggest that whole body cryostimulation can be a supplementary method for obese in reducing systemic inflammation.

BACKGROUND

Mozambique adopted artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the year 2006, and since 2009 artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ) have been proposed as alternative first-line treatments. A multicentre study was conducted in five sites across the country to assess the in vivo efficacy and tolerability of these two drugs.

METHODS

Children aged six to 59 months with uncomplicated malaria were recruited between June 2011 and January 2012 in five sites across Mozambique (Montepuez, Dondo, Tete, Chokwe, and Manhiça), and treated with AL or ASAQ in a non-randomized study. Follow-up was organized following standard WHO recommendations for in vivo studies, and included daily visits during the three-day-long supervised treatment course, followed by weekly visits up to day 28. The study primary outcome was the day 28 PCR-corrected early treatment failure (ETF), late clinical failure (LCF), late parasitological failure (LPF), and adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR). PCR was performed centrally for all cases of recurrent parasitaemia from day 7 onwards to distinguish recrudescence from re-infection.

RESULTS

Four-hundred and thirty-nine (AL cohort; five sites) and 261 (ASAQ cohort, three sites) children were recruited to the study. Day 28 PCR-corrected efficacy for AL was 96.0% (335/339; 95% CI: 93.4-97.8), while for ASAQ it was 99.6% (232/233; 95% CI: 97.6-99.9). The majority of recurring parasitaemia cases throughout follow-up were shown to be re-infections by PCR. Both drugs were well tolerated, with the most frequent adverse event being vomiting (AL 4.5% [20/439]; ASAQ 9.6% [25/261]) and no significant events deemed related to the study drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms that both AL and ASAQ remain highly efficacious and well tolerated for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Mozambican children. Studies such as these should be replicated regularly in the selected surveillance sentinel sites to continuously monitor the efficacy of these drugs and to rapidly detect any potential signs of declining efficacy to ACT, the mainstay of malaria treatment.

BACKGROUND

Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread of the malaria parasites infecting human hosts. In malaria-eliminating settings, both imported and local malaria predominantly occurs in border areas, and most of them are P. vivax. Chloroquine (CQ) is the first-line drug for P. vivax treatment in China. To understand CQ sensitivity in P. vivax, in vivo monitoring of CQ resistance was conducted along the China-Myanmar border from 2008 to 2013.

METHODS

Eligible patients with mono-infections of P. vivax were recruited to this study after obtaining full informed consent. CQ tablets for different categories of kg body weight ranges were given once a day for three days. Patients were followed up for 28 days. PCR was conducted to distinguish between re-infection and recrudescence, to confirm the Plasmodium species. The data were entered and analysed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Treatment outcome and sensitivity were classified according to the WHO recommended standards.

RESULTS

603 patients were completed valid follow-up. The fever clearance time and asexual parasite clearance times were, respectively, 22.2 ± 10.2 and 38.1 ± 12.6 hours. 594 (98.5%) patients were adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR), and nine (1.5%) patients, who were late clinical failure (LCF) or resistant response level I (RI), were imported from the neighbouring districts of Myanmar.

CONCLUSIONS

In terms of efficacy, CQ is still effective for vivax malaria treatment. Plasmodium vivax CQ sensitivity had not significantly changed along the China-Myanmar border of Yunnan Province, China.

To determine the effects of an exercise-training program on coronary collateral development, we instrumented 13 1-yr-old beagles with left circumflex (LCf) coronary artery flow probes and balloon occluders and left atrial and aortic catheters. The LCf artery was constricted resulting in a 58 +/- 4% reduction of the peak reactive hyperemia response following release of a 154-s LCf occlusion. All dogs were studied during the first week of the study protocol. Resting heart rate, cardiac output, and left atrial and aortic pressures were evaluated before and during a 1-min LCf occlusion. Myocardial blood flow was also measured with radioactively-labeled microspheres injected into the left atrium during the LCf occlusion. Subsequently the dogs were exercised at 6.4 km/h and 12% grade, and all hemodynamic and blood flow measurements were repeated. The animals were then randomized to either a sedentary or exercising group. The six sedentary animals were confined to their cages, while the seven training beagles did sprint and endurance running for 75 min/day, 5 days/wk. After 12 wk the hemodynamic and blood flow studies were repeated at rest and during treadmill running. There were no statistically significant differences in resting or exercise hemodynamics, response to LCf occlusion, or myocardial blood flow in the two groups in wk 1. Hemodynamics and blood flow data were virtually unchanged in the sedentary animals after 12 wk. However, the trained dogs demonstrated less evidence of left ventricular failure following LCf occlusion while running and had significantly higher myocardial blood flows. Their resting collateral flow increased from 0.52 +/- 0.16 ml . min-1 . g-1 at wk 1 to 0.90 +/- 0.28 ml . min-1 . g-1 at wk 12 (P less than 0.05), while the ratio of collateral to normal myocardial blood flow increased from 0.46 +/- 0.12 to 0.64 +/- 0.16 (P less than 0.05). Thus chronic exercise can stimulate coronary collateral development, and the enhanced collateral flow has a salutary functional effect.

Transfer of bioactive organic compounds from soil to plants might represent animal and human health risks. Sewage sludge and manure are potential sources for bioactive compounds such as human- and veterinary drugs. In the present study, uptake of the anti-diabetic compound, metformin, the antibiotic agent ciprofloxacin and the anti-coccidial narasin in carrot (Daucuscarota ssp. sativus cvs. Napoli) and barley (Hordeumvulgare) were investigated. The pharmaceuticals were selected in order to cover various chemical properties, in addition to their presence in relevant environmental matrixes. The root concentration factors (RCF) found in the present study were higher than the corresponding leaf concentration factors (LCF) for the three test pharmaceuticals. The uptake of metformin was higher compared with ciprofloxacin and narasin for all plant compartments analyzed. Metformin was studied more explicitly with regard to uptake and translocation in meadow fescue (Festucapratense), three other carrot cultivars (D.carota ssp. sativus cvs. Amager, Rothild and Nutri Red), wheat cereal (Triticumaestivum) and turnip rape seed (Brassicacampestris). Uptake of metformin in meadow fescue was comparable with uptake in the four carrot cultivars (RCF 2-10, LCF approximately 1.5), uptake in wheat cereals were comparable with barley cereals (seed concentration factors, SCF, 0.02-0.04) while the accumulation in turnip rape seeds was as high as 1.5. All three pharmaceuticals produced negative effects on growth and development of carrots when grown in soil concentration of 6-10 mg kg(-1) dry weight.

The LCF is a unique interleukin without significant homology to other interleukins or chemokines. It is a chemoattractant factor for all CD4+ cells and either uses CD4 as its receptor or utilizes a cell surface complex of molecules for which there is an absolute requirement for the presence of CD4. In addition to its chemoattractant activity, it is a growth factor for CD4+ T cells, inducing resting cells to enter G1, as evidenced by the expression of MHC II molecules and IL-2R. Once induced by LCF to express IL-2R, CD4+ T cells become competent to respond to LCF and progress through the cell cycle to proliferation. LCF's activity on CD4 cells defines a role for CD4 on the eosinophil and monocyte and broadens the scope of functions of CD4 on the T cell. In this regard it may have importance in human disease states that are characterized by increased numbers of activated CD4+ cells, such as sarcoidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or asthma. Likewise, it may play a key role in monocyte and eosinophil chemotaxis into tissues, being important in the latter in concert with hematopoietic factors that increase the available eosinophil pool.

This report describes a technique for studying the adherence and growth of Giardia intestinalis trophozoites (strains PARIS/86/LCF/1, PARIS/86/LCF/2 and PARIS/88/LCF/8) using the human colon carcinoma cell line Caco2. Giardia trophozoites were cultured with Caco2 cells in a modified HSP3 culture medium. The biochemical differentiation of Caco2 cells was established by an increase in sucrase isomaltase activities to values of 4.51 +/- 0.90 and 10.39 +/- 3.00 milliunits/mg protein for 8- and 12-day-old cultures, respectively. Giardia, adherence to 8- and 12-day-old Caco2 cells reached a value of greater than 75% after 60 and 30 min, respectively. Adherence diminished significantly at 24 degrees C and was almost undetectable at 4 degrees C. Depletion of divalent cations reduced the proportion of adherent trophozoites by up to 46%. Adherence was pH-independent between pH 6.0 and 7.6. Parasite growth increased when Caco2 cell monolayers were used instead of axenic cultures. This in vitro human cell model may contribute to the study of the mechanisms and factors involved in the host-parasite interaction.

Biorefinery, an example of a multiple products system, integrates biomass conversion processes and equipment to produce fuels, power and chemicals from biomass. This study focuses on technical design, economic and environmental analysis of a lignocellulosic feedstock (LCF) biorefinery producing ethanol, succinic acid, acetic acid and electricity. As the potential worldwide demand of succinic acid and its derivatives can reach 30 million tons per year, succinic acid is a promising high-value product if production cost and market price are substantially lowered. The results of the economic analysis show that the designed refinery has great potentials compared to the single-output ethanol plant; even when the price of succinic acid is lowered or the capital investment doubled. In terms of eco-efficiency, the LCF biorefinery shows better environmental performances mainly in global warming potential due to CO(2) fixation during acid fermentation. The overall evaluation of the eco-efficiency depends on the importance attached to each impact category.

In recent years, the East African region has seen an increase in arboviral diseases transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods. Effective surveillance to monitor and reduce incidence of these infections requires the use of appropriate vector sampling tools. Here, trapped skin volatiles on fur from sheep, a known preferred host of mosquito vectors of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), were used with a standard CDC light trap to improve catches of mosquito vectors. We tested the standard CDC light trap alone (L), and baited with (a) CO(2) (LC), (b) animal volatiles (LF), and (c) CO(2) plus animal volatiles (LCF) in two highly endemic areas for RVF in Kenya (Marigat and Ijara districts) from March-June and September-December 2010. The incidence rate ratios (IRR) that mosquito species chose traps baited with treatments (LCF, LC and LF) instead of the control (L) were estimated. Marigat was dominated by secondary vectors and host-seeking mosquitoes were 3-4 times more likely to enter LC and LCF traps [IRR = 3.1 and IRR = 3.8 respectively] than the L only trap. The LCF trap captured a greater number of mosquitoes than the LC trap (IRR = 1.23) although the difference was not significant. Analogous results were observed at Ijara, where species were dominated by key primary and primary RVFV vectors, with 1.6-, 6.5-, and 8.5-fold increases in trap captures recorded in LF, LC and LCF baited traps respectively, relative to the control. These catches all differed significantly from those trapped in L only. Further, there was a significant increase in trap captures in LCF compared to LC (IRR = 1.63). Mosquito species composition and trap counts differed between the RVF sites. However, within each site, catches differed in abundance only and no species preferences were noted in the different baited-traps. Identifying the attractive components present in these natural odors should lead to development of an effective odor-bait trapping system for population density-monitoring and result in improved RVF surveillance especially during the inter-epidemic period.

The expression of luciferin-binding protein (LBP) and luciferase (LCF), two proteins that are involved in bioluminescence in Gonyaulax polyedra, is controlled by a cellular circadian clock. In the case of LBP, its temporal expression is reported to be regulated at the translational level, involving both 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of lbp mRNA. Here, we show that the amounts of lcf mRNA are constant throughout the day-night cycle, indicating that the circadian expression of LCF is also regulated at the translational level.

Characteristic residual (12-67 years) neuropathological features of 4 verified or suspected cases of Japanese B encephalitis (JBE) are reported. These features are summarized as: 1. unique distribution pattern of the main lesions, i.e. combination of lesions in the thalamus, substantia nigra and Ammon's horn. Lesions in the thalamus consistently involved, in a linear fashion, lamina medullaris medialis with nucleus intralaminalis and adjacent portions of the nucleus lateralis thalami. Lesions in the substantia nigra usually occupied the middle parts of zona compacta. These lesions were usually symmetrical, though unequal in extent. 2. Unique nature of the lesions, especially those in the thalamus and substantia nigra. Characteristic "light circumscribed foci (LCF)", which consisted of small rarefied areas, with few cellular and fibrous elements, surrounded by dense gliomesenchymal scarring, were observed there and occasionally in cerebral cortices. Lesions were thought to be vestiges of "circumscribed necrotic foci" reported in the CNS of acute stage of JBE. Additional characteristic features in the thalamic lesions were calcified and binucleated nerve cells. Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles were not found. Authors consider that the distribution and nature of the lesions are of diagnostic value.

OBJECTIVE

Laminoplasty (LP) and laminectomy with fusion (LCF) are acceptable surgical options for cervical myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). This study focused on evaluating cervical range of motion (ROM) on a three-dimensional basis as well as neurological outcomes after LP and LCF.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study consisted of 38 patients undergoing LP (n=20) or LCF (n=18) from December 2010 to December 2012. Before surgery and at the 3rd, 6th, 12th month follow-up, patients were assessed with three-dimensional cervical ROM, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and complications.

RESULTS

The patients in both groups had significant ROM loss after surgery in six directions of motion. At the 12th month follow-up, the LP group preserved more ROM than LCF in all directions except bilateral rotations. Major reduction was observed in extension, as with only 59.8% and 54.3% ROM preserved in LP and LCF groups. However, the most preserved ROM was witnessed in rotation, especially in the LP group (90.8%). For JOA and VAS, both groups showed significant improvements postoperatively, and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with OPLL had an obvious reduction in active cervical ROM following LP and LCF. Major reduction was observed in extension, and less impact was detected on rotation. Compared with LCF, LP had better ROM preserved. Both LP and LCF provided patients with significant neurological improvement.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness of sensory stimulation programmes in patients in coma or vegetative state.

METHODS

Systematic review of randomized control trials (RCT) and nonrandomized controlled clinical trials (CCT) comparing any type of stimulation programmes with standard rehabilitation in patients in coma or vegetative state. The Injuries Group specialized register, the Cochrane Controlled trial register, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PSYCHLIT from 1966 to January 2002 were searched without language restriction. Reference lists of articles were scanned and experts in the area contacted to find other relevant studies. Abstracts and papers found were initially screened by one reviewer. Three reviewers independently identified relevant studies, extracted data and assessed study quality, resolving disagreement by consensus.

METHODS

Duration of unconsciousness (including coma and vegetative state) defined as the time between trauma and objective recovery of the ability to respond to verbal commands; level of consciousness, as measured by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS); level of cognitive functioning (LCF); functional outcomes, as measured by Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) or by Disability Rating Scale; negative effects (e.g. increased intracranial pressure).

RESULTS

Three studies (one RCT and two CCTs) with 68 traumatic brain-injured patients in total, most of whom were road accident victims, met the inclusion criteria. The overall methodological quality was poor and studies differed widely in terms of study design and conduct. Moreover, due to the diversity in reporting of outcome measures, a quantitative metanalysis was not possible. None of the three studies provided useful and valid results on outcomes of clinical relevance for coma patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review indicates that there is no reliable evidence to support the effectiveness of multisensory stimulation programmes in patients in coma or the vegetative state.