BACKGROUND

Cigarette smoking takes a staggering toll on human health and attracts considerable public health attention, yet real solutions seem distant. The 2004 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (US Senate bill S2461) would have given the US Food and Drug Administration limited authority to regulate cigarettes to "protect the public health." However, such legislation is unlikely to substantially reduce smoking or related deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

The past 500 years of tobacco control efforts demonstrate that nicotine prohibition is a practical impossibility for numerous reasons, state revenue being one of the most ominous. The FDA already has regulatory authority over pharmaceutical grade nicotine products, and requires pharmacists to dispense the most addictive of these only with prescriptions. Meanwhile, every corner store can sell far more addictive and dangerous cigarettes to any adult. The FDA could immediately increase competition between cigarettes and clean nicotine products by approving available nicotine products for over-the-counter sales to adults. Similarly permissive regulation of cigarettes and addictive nicotine products will reduce tobacco use and improve smokers' health, but increase nicotine use in the population. Fortunately, restricted youth access and accurate labeling of nicotine's absolute risks will dissuade many non-smokers from experimenting with it, while accurate depiction of its risks relative to cigarette smoking will encourage many smokers to switch. The FDA could take a series of small steps that might ultimately replace a large proportion of cigarette smoking with equally addictive nicotine products, without risking serious public health setbacks. Vaccine, methadone, and injury prevention policies establish relevant public health precedents.

CONCLUSIONS

Cigarettes, or an equally addictive alternative, will be a permanent and common product in most societies. Regulations restricting only the safest addictive nicotine products are hard to justify. Addictive nicotine compliments other tobacco control strategies. Modern tobacco control policies are applicable to addictive nicotine. Controlled trials and test market studies are urgently needed to evaluate addictive nicotine as an alternative to smoking. Meanwhile, legislators should preserve the Food and Drug Administration's option to permit non-prescription sales of addictive nicotine.

The inhibition of covalent binding of the nascent C4b fragment of the human complement component to its natural target, immunoglobulin G, was studied. To this end, an immunoenzyme system was developed. In this ELISA method, the complement was activated on the sorbed IgG molecules and the resulting nascent C4b fragment acylated IgG or interacted with a competitive inhibitor added to the system. The inhibition constants for binding of the nascent C4b to its target were determined for immunoglobulins G1, G2, G3, G4, M, and A1, as well as for ferritin, yeast mannan, capsid polysaccharides of the Neisseria meningitidis A, B, and C serotypes, diphtheria anatoxin, epinephrine, and salicylic acid. On the basis of the experimental data, the immunoglobulin role at the activation stage of the complement regulation cascade, the relationship between the antigen immunogenicity and its ability to interact with C4b, and the direct effect of a number of therapeutic agents on the complement system were discussed. Lectins of various specificities were shown to inhibit the enzymic activation of C4 by the first complement component and the subsequent C4b sorption to its target, which allowed us to suggest that some oligosaccharide fragments of the C1s and C4 molecules are spatially close to the C1s active site and to the thioester bond of C4.

Phononic crystals are periodic composite structures with specific resonant features that are gaining popularity in the field as liquid sensors. The introduction of a structural defect in an otherwise periodic regular arrangement can generate a resonant mode, also called defect mode, inside the characteristic band gaps of phononic crystals. The morphology, as well as the frequency in which these defect modes appear, can give useful information on the composition and properties of an analyte. Currently, only gain and frequency measurements are performed using phononic crystal sensors. Other measurements like the transient response have been implemented in resonant sensors such as quartz microbalances showing great results and proving to be a great complimentary measure to the gain and frequency measurements. In the present paper, a study of the feasibility of using the transient response as a measure to acquire additional information about the analyte is presented. Theoretical studies using the transmission line model were realized to show the impact of variations in the concentration of an analyte, in this case, lithium carbonate solutions, in the transient time of the system. Experimental realizations were also performed showing that the proposed measurement scheme presents significant changes in the resulting data, indicating the potential use of this measure in phononic crystal sensors. This proposed measure could be implemented as a stand-alone measure or as a compliment to current sensing modalities.

The ability to measure the total concentration of low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors in hepatic tissues is of crucial importance to understanding changes in hepatic cholesterol metabolism. Such measurements can be made in conjunction with estimates of LDL receptor transcriptional activity, cell surface LDL receptor number, and rates of hepatic LDL uptake to evaluate the mechanisms controlling cellular LDL receptor expression. Current methods for assessing hepatic LDL receptor levels use microsomes as a source of LDL receptor, and thus rely on consistent contamination of the microsomal preparation with LDL receptor-containing plasma membranes, endocytic vesicles, and/or secretory vesicles. Because this contamination is variable, and may vary with alterations in either the distribution of LDL receptors among the various cellular membrane fractions or in the composition of the intracellular membranes, measurement of LDL receptor concentration in microsomal fractions may not accurately reflect the total compliment of LDL receptors within the cell. We have developed the methodology for isolating the full complement of hepatic LDL receptor containing membranes by discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and for quantitating LDL receptor concentration using a Western immunoblotting procedure that uses an anti-C-terminal LDL receptor peptide polyclonal antiserum and assesses the intensity of color formation by reflectance densitometry. Using this methodology, we observed a 126 kDa immunoreactive band for the bovine adrenal cortex LDL receptor that also exhibited LDL binding activity as visualized by biotinylated LDL-ligand blotting, and a doublet of 140 kDa for the hamster liver LDL receptor. These bands were not observed when ligand blotting was conducted in the presence of either 10 mM EDTA or a 5-fold excess of unlabeled LDL, or when immunoblotting was conducted using either preimmune serum or antiserum that had been preabsorbed with LDL receptor peptide. The intensity of color formation was a linear function of the amount of membrane extract separated by electrophoresis. Intra-assay variation averaged 7%, and inter-animal variation averaged 20%. Cholestyramine, tiqueside, CP-88488, 17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol, mevinolin, and the combination of cholestyramine plus mevinolin, pharmacological interventions known to increase LDL receptor activity in experimental animals, produced the predicted increases in hamster total hepatic LDL receptor concentration that were highly correlated with concomitant increases in HMG-CoA reductase activity and reductions in serum cholesterol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

In this paper, we employ microperoxidase MP-11 immobilized on mesoporous SnO(2) electrodes in order to study its peroxidase activity and reaction mechanism. We demonstrate the catalytic redox chemistry of the immobilized MP-11 via direct interfacial electron transfer without the use of electron mediators. By taking advantage from the optical transparency of the SnO(2) electrodes, optical absorbance spectroscopy is used in order to compliment the data information obtained from electrochemical techniques. The catalytic activity of the immobilized MP-11 is found to proceed via the Fenton reaction, yielding OH radical intermediates. We also demonstrate the viability of using this electrode system as a potential H(2)O(2) biosensor with a sensitivity range of 0.05-30 μM.

Psychological first aid is a form of support designed to lessen disaster-related distress. In a pandemic, providers may need such support but with the high risk of exposure, such a program is offered only virtually. The research is scant for traditional post-disaster support and non-existent for virtual; therefore, by using related research this discussion considers the likelihood of providers accessing and benefiting from this program. The virtual platform is heralded as the responsible way to provide support in a pandemic but this standard may be ineffective and is inherently inequitable. As a global event, pandemics require containment strategies applicable on an international level; therefore, psychosocial support should also be developed with an international audience in mind. Online psychosocial support falls short of being such a strategy as it incorrectly assumes global internet access. Many low-income areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa will need support strategies which compliment local frontline staff and fit with community-driven initiatives, whereas wealthier countries may use a combination of onsite and online support. Provider psychosocial support needs in a pandemic, if articulated, are globally similar but how this support is offered requires contextually sensitive considerations not yet found in the literature.

Keywords: healthcare providers; pandemics; post-trauma; psychological first aid; stress disorder; traumatic distress.

It is unusual but not uncommon for foreign bodies to be missed at bronchoscopy. This case report highlights the importance of the clinical history in the diagnosis of aspirated foreign bodies and the usefulness of chest imaging modalities. A 6-year-old boy presented with recurrent breathlessness and cough of 2 months. He was said to have aspirated the base cap of a pen at about the time symptoms started. He had two sessions of rigid bronchoscopy and a session of flexible bronchoscopy at three different hospitals. He had an initial rigid bronchoscopy which failed to show the foreign body (FB). A chest computerized tomographic scan demonstrated the FB, which was retrieved at combined flexible/rigid bronchoscopy. Although rigid bronchoscopy is the gold standard for managing airway foreign bodies, there remains a false negative rate for this procedure and where necessary, appropriate imaging may compliment rigid bronchoscopy, especially where there is some confusion.

Background: Although healthcare institutions receive many unsolicited compliment letters, these are not systematically conceptualised or analysed. We conceptualise compliment letters as simultaneously identifying and encouraging high-quality healthcare. We sought to identify the practices being complimented and the aims of writing these letters, and we test whether the aims vary when addressing front-line staff compared with senior management.

Methods: A national sample of 1267 compliment letters was obtained from 54 English hospitals. Manual classification examined the practices reported as praiseworthy, the aims being pursued and who the letter was addressed to.

Results: The practices being complimented were in the relationship (77% of letters), clinical (50%) and management (30%) domains. Across these domains, 39% of compliments focused on voluntary non-routine extra-role behaviours (eg, extra-emotional support, staying late to run an extra test). The aims of expressing gratitude were to acknowledge (80%), reward (44%) and promote (59%) the desired behaviour. Front-line staff tended to receive compliments acknowledging behaviour, while senior management received compliments asking them to reward individual staff and promoting the importance of relationship behaviours.

Conclusions: Compliment letters reveal that patients value extra-role behaviour in clinical, management and especially relationship domains. However, compliment letters do more than merely identify desirable healthcare practices. By acknowledging, rewarding and promoting these practices, compliment letters can potentially contribute to healthcare services through promoting desirable behaviours and giving staff social recognition.

Keywords: communication; healthcare quality improvement; patient safety; patient-centred care.

This study explores the experiences of people who have attended Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for a forensic medical examination (FME). Within the United Kingdom, SARCs support complainants following a sexual assault, delivering specialised care and gathering medico-legal evidence for court proceedings. To date, there has been limited research evaluating SARCs responses towards complainants. 863 Feedback and Evaluation forms, from a three-year period, completed by clients who had accessed Saint Mary's SARC's forensic medical examination service were evaluated. Descriptive statistical analysis found a large majority of clients were 'very satisfied' with the crisis worker, forensic physician and police. Content analysis of the free text responses found more nuanced experiences, which impacted clients overall experience within the SARC. These comments were split into two themes, 'Compliments' and 'Suggestions for improvement'. There were 404 comments focusing on compliments of the service and the staff. Compliments included messages of thanks, with praise for professionalism of the staff and importance of the service. Clients noted in particular that the FME service was delivered in challenging circumstances i.e. the immediate aftermath of a sexual assault. There were 34 comments which made suggestions for improvements. These suggestions focused on pragmatic and logistic issues.

BACKGROUND

Populations displaced by conflict face numerous threats to their psychological well-being; consequently, the prevalence of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder can be elevated as compared to populations who have not experienced forced displacement.

OBJECTIVE

Little is known about the mental health needs of displaced Iraqis. The factors associated with a need for psychological services among patients at seven clinics served by two NGOs that are known sources of care for the displaced Iraqi population in Amman, Jordan were explored.

METHODS

The survey was conducted in January and February 2008 and included a random sample of care seekers from seven clinics selected using interval sampling. Interviews on the health needs of displaced Iraqis and their access to services, including mental health services lasting approximately 20 minutes were conducted.

RESULTS

Of the 664 survey participants, 49% (95% CI = 45-53%) of respondents reported needing mental health services and 5% (95% CI = 3-8%) of those in need had access to services. The length of time spent in Jordan (adjusted OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.00-1.11) was associated with the need for mental health services and the adjusted odds of requiring psychological services was 39% less for individuals from outside of Baghdad as compared to Baghdad residents (OR = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.38-0.98). Responders citing violence as a factor were twice as likely to be from Baghdad (OR = 2.28; 95% CI = 1.03-6.91), while interviewees reporting displacement as a cause for needing mental health services were twice as likely to be female (OR = 2.14; 95% CI = 1.12-4.18). In individuals 35-44 years of age (OR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.14-0.87) the need for mental health services due to displacement decreased by 64%, while being a part of a female-headed household decreased the need by 81% (OR = 0.19; 95% CI = 0.06-0.57%).

CONCLUSIONS

More attention should be given to expanding the local Jordanian health system capacity for the provision of mental service. Targeted social and psychiatric interventions that are culturally sensitive and aligned with Inter-Agency Standing Committee recommendations should be developed to compliment and expand the existing mental health service capacity in Jordan.

This study provides the first semi-quantititative account of the benthic campanulariid hydroids from Northern Bahia (Brazil), down to a depth of 60 m, based largely on collections obtained since 1992. Colonies were collected from six habitats along the coast of Salvador City, Todos os Santos Bay, Itaparica Island and at the northernmost part of the coast of the State of Bahia. From the 982 colonies examined, nine species were recorded: Campanularia hincksii, Clytia gracilis, C. hemisphaerica, C. hummelincki, C. linearis, C. macrotheca, C. noliformis, Obelia bidentata and O. dichotoma. Following a defined abundance scale, Clytia gracilis and C. noliformis were the most abundant species, whereas Campanularia hincksii and Clytia hummelincki were rare. Cluster analysis of relative abundance data revealed sandy shores had a markedly different hydroid community from other habitats. A simplified identification key, redescriptions, illustrations and data on nematocyst compliment are provided for each species. Campanularia hincksii, Clytia macrotheca and C. noliformis are reported from Brazil for the first time.

BACKGROUND

In the wake of rising energy demands, microalgae have emerged as potential sources of sustainable and renewable carbon-neutral fuels, such as bio-hydrogen and bio-oil.

OBJECTIVE

For rational metabolic engineering, the elucidation of metabolic pathways in fine detail and their manipulation according to requirements is the key to exploiting the use of microalgae. Emergence of site-specific nucleases have revolutionized applied research leading to biotechnological gains. Genome engineering as well as modulation of the endogenous genome with high precision using CRISPR systems is being gradually employed in microalgal research. Further, to optimize and produce better algal platforms, use of systems biology network analysis and integration of omics data is required. This review discusses two important approaches: systems biology and gene editing strategies used on microalgal systems with a focus on biofuel production and sustainable solutions. It also emphasizes that the integration of such systems would contribute and compliment applied research on microalgae.

CONCLUSIONS

Recent advances in microalgae are discussed, including systems biology, gene editing approaches in lipid bio-synthesis, and antenna engineering. Lastly, it has been attempted here to showcase how CRISPR/Cas systems are a better editing tool than existing techniques that can be utilized for gene modulation and engineering during biofuel production.

Aim: Conducting a pilot study to assess the effect of thermal heliox on the state of the respiratory tract by studying of the exhaled breath condensate protein composition before the thermal heliox procedure, immediately after and after three hours of relaxation Materials and methods. A comparative study of the exhaled breath condensates (EBC) protein composition of five non-smoking healthy donors was carried out. The EBC was taken before the respiratory procedure, immediately after a 20-minute inhalation by mixture of He/O2 gases (70/30) heated to 70C and 3 hours later. The protein composition was determined by chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis after selective tryptic hydrolysis. The results were processed using the Mascot program and the UniProt database.

Results: After the heliox procedure, the volume of the collected condensate (11.5 ml) decreases by an average of 32% and is practically restored after three hours of relaxation. Most proteins were consistent for all samples, regardless of the thermal heliox procedure. These are keratins, several proteins of the immune system (immunoglobulins, compliment proteins), tubulin. In samples after thermal heliox, the appearance of small amounts of additional proteins is observed. These are proteins of muscle metabolism (actin and calmodulin), fibrinogen, traces of hemoglobin, apolipoprotein, type B creatine kinase. After three hours of relaxation, tubulin disappears in the EBC.

Conclusion: Most exhaled proteins are the same before, after the procedure, and for three hours of relaxation. The results obtained demonstrate the relative safety of the use of high temperature heliox as a therapeutic agent.

Цель. Проведение пилотного исследования по оценке влияния термического гелиокса на состояние респираторного тракта с помощью изучения белкового состава конденсата выдыхаемого воздуха до процедуры термического гелиокса, сразу после и спустя 3 ч релаксации. Материалы и методы. Проведено сравнительное исследование белкового состава конденсатов выдыхаемого воздуха (КВВ) 5 некурящих здоровых доноров. КВВ отбирали до дыхательной процедуры, сразу после 20-минутной ингаляции, нагретой до 70С смеси газов Не/О2 (70/30), и 3 ч спустя. Белковый состав определяли методом хромато-масс-спектрометрического анализа после селективного триптического гидролиза. Обработка результатов осуществлялась с использованием программы Mascot и базы данных UniProt. Результаты. После процедуры гелиокса объем собираемого конденсата (11,5 мл) падает в среднем на 32% и практически восстанавливается после 3-часовой релаксации. Основная часть белков постоянна для всех проб, независимо от процедуры термического гелиокса. Это кератины, несколько белков иммунной системы (иммуноглобулины, белки комплимента), тубулин. В пробах после термического гелиокса наблюдается появление в небольших количествах дополнительных белков. Это белки мышечного метаболизма (актины и кальмодулины), фибриноген, следы гемоглобина, аполипопротеина, креатинкиназы В типа. После 3-часовой релаксации в КВВ исчезает тубулин. Заключение. Большая часть выдыхаемых белков одинакова до, после процедуры и 3-часовой релаксации. Полученные результаты демонстрируют относительную безопасность применения высокотемпературного гелиокса как терапевтического средства.

Keywords: exhaled breath condensate; mass spectrometry analysis; proteome; therapy; thermoheliox.

Respiratory difficulties constitute the commonest cause of morbidity in new born infants and pulmonary pathology is the most frequent autopsy finding. Various components, such as free oxygen radicals, immunoglobulins, and compliment systems, play an important role in immunopathology and immune defence. The aim of the present study was to assess free oxygen radical markers in neonatal lung diseases, studying their relationship with immune profile and ascertaining their relevance as predictors of clinical outcome. Full term newborns with respiratory distress and X-ray proven lung disease formed the study group. Blood samples were assessed for lipid peroxide (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), immunoglobulins IgM and G, CD4 and CD8 subpopulations of T-lymphocytes. Levels of free radical markers were significantly higher in the study group. The humoral immune response was seen in terms of raised IgM levels in the study group which were still within the normal range. The cellular immune response was demonstrated by a raised percentage of CD4 T-lymphocytes which in turn accentuated the CD4:CD8 ratio. Higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were associated with a prolonged duration of respiratory distress and oxygen dependence. Since the free radicals have emerged as the major final common pathway of tissue injury, free radical ablation offers substantial potential for treatment; but whether antioxidants, scavengers and other modalities would have a significant impact on clinical outcome, remains to be investigated.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the changes of serum cytokines vary with plasma exchange (PE) therapy in patients with severe viral hepatitis.

METHODS

Forty patients suffering from severe liver failure were randomized and treated by PE therapy. The tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels and liver function before and after PE therapy were examined. Moreover, the relation of TNF-alpha, IL-4 levels and the efficacy of PE, liver function and the compliment were also observed.

RESULTS

It showed that the TNF-alpha and IL-4 level of the serum were decreased after PE therapy. The TNF-alpha level of the serum was(79.32+/-22.39) ng/L before treatment and (20.01+/-22.25) ng/L after treatment (P<0.001), IL-4 was(0.61+/-0.07) ng/L before treatment and (0.57+/-0.06) ng/L after treatment (P<0.01). There were more differences between recovering patients and worsen ones (P<0.05 or P<0.01). There was remarkable difference between recovering patients and worsen ones in the liver function improvement (P<0.05 or P<0.01), the severe symptom ( P<0.01 and P<0.05) and the complication (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

PE therapy can effectively purge or reduce TNF-alpha, IL-4 and is a method treating and preventing the complication. The worsen patients have continuous inflammation and higher level of TNF-alpha and IL-4.

BACKGROUND

Unhealthy eating and physical activity behaviours are common among nurses but little is known about determinants of eating and physical activity behaviour in this population. The present study used a theoretical framework which summarises the many possible determinants of different health behaviours (the Theoretical Domains Framework; TDF) to systematically explore the most salient determinants of unhealthy eating and physical activity behaviour in hospital-based nurses.

METHODS

Semi-structured qualitative interviews based on the TDF were conducted with nurses (n = 16) to explore factors that behavioural theories suggest may influence nurses' eating and physical activity behaviour. Important determinants of the target behaviours were identified using both inductive coding (of categories emerging from the data) and deductive coding (of categories derived from the TDF) of the qualitative data.

RESULTS

Thirteen of the fourteen domains in the TDF were found to influence nurses' eating and physical activity behaviour. Within these domains, important barriers to engaging in healthy eating and physical activity behaviour were shift work, fatigue, stress, beliefs about negative consequences, the behaviours of family and friends and lack of planning. Important factors reported to enable engagement with healthy eating and physical activity behaviours were beliefs about benefits, the use of self-monitoring strategies, support from work colleagues, confidence, shift work, awareness of useful guidelines and strategies, good mood, future holidays and receiving compliments.

CONCLUSIONS

This study used a theory-informed approach by applying the TDF to identify the key perceived determinants of nurses' eating and physical activity behaviour. The findings suggest that future efforts to change nurses' eating and physical activity behaviours should consider targeting a broad range of environmental, interpersonal and intrapersonal level factors, consistent with a socio-ecological perspective.

Chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus) learn to peck soon after hatching and then peck in rapid bursts or bouts with intervals of non-pecking activity. The food sources may be static such as seeds and chick crumb, or mobile such as a mealworm. Here, changes with age in pecking toward chick crumb and a mealworm were measured. Chicks were reared in pairs and their pecking of crumb food was video recorded in their pair housed environment, from food presentation, every third day from day 8 (wk 2) to day 65 (wk 10). Peck rate at crumb food reached maximum levels at day 32 (wk 5), and then declined, fitting a quadratic model, with no sex, sex of cagemate, or box order effects. Within bouts the peck rate was higher and it increased to day 41 (wk 6) and then declined, and here males pecked faster than females. A change in dietary protein concentration from 22% to 18% at day 28 (wk 4) had no effect on subsequent peck rate. Pecking at and consumption of a mealworm in pair housed chicks were measured weekly from wks [5 to 12]. The latency to first worm peck and latency to swallow decreased to wk 8 and increased thereafter. The peck rate to first wormpeck and number of pecks to swallow increased to wk 8 and then declined paralleling the changes with crumb food. The increase in peck rate is coupled with an increase in efficiency in worm catching. The results are consistent with the view that the improvement in pecking ability and accuracy compliments change in nutritional requirement best served by an invertebrate food (IF) source requiring speed to achieve feeding success, especially with live prey. When this food source is no longer crucial these associated skill levels decline. An appreciation of the role of domestic fowl in controlling insect populations, at farm level, that are often vectors in disease spread is lacking.

Cylindrical silk fiber (SF) was coated with Graphene oxide (GO) for capacitive humidity sensor applications. Negatively charged GO in the solution was attracted to the positively charged SF surface via electrostatic force without any help from adhesive intermediates. The magnitude of the positively charged SF surface was controlled through the static electricity charges created on the SF surface. The GO coating ability on the SF improved as the SF's positive charge increased. The GO-coated SFs at various conditions were characterized using an optical microscope, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Raman spectroscopy, and LCR meter. Unlike the intact SF, the GO-coated SF showed clear response-recovery behavior and well-behaved repeatability when it was exposed to 20% relative humidity (RH) and 90% RH alternatively in a capacitive mode. This approach allows humidity sensors to take advantage of GO's excellent sensing properties and SF's flexibility, expediting the production of flexible, low power consumption devices at relatively low costs.

Synthetic vitreous fibers (SVFs) are a broad class of inorganic vitreous silicates used in a large number of applications including thermal and acoustical insulation and filtration. Historically, they have been grouped into somewhat artificial broad categories, e.g., glass, rock (stone), slag, or ceramic fibers based on the origin of the raw materials or the manufacturing process used to produce them. In turn, these broad categories have been used to classify SVFs according to their potential health effects, e.g., the International Agency for Research on Cancer and International Programme for Chemical Safety in 1988, based on the available health information at that time. During the past 10-15 years extensive new information has been developed on the health aspects of these fibers in humans, in experimental animals, and with in vitro test systems. Various chronic inhalation studies and intraperitoneal injection studies in rodents have clearly shown that within a given category of SVFs there can be a vast diversity of biological responses due to the different fiber compositions within that category. This information has been further buttressed by an in-depth knowledge of differences in the biopersistence of the various types of fibers in the lung after short-term exposure and their in vitro dissolution rates in fluids that mimic those found in the lung. This evolving body of information, which compliments and explains the results of chronic animal studies clearly show that these "broad" categories are somewhat archaic, oversimplistic, and do not represent current science. This new understanding of the relation between fiber composition, solubility, and biological activity requires a new classification system to more accurately reflect the potential health consequences of exposure to these materials. It is proposed that a new classification system be developed based on the results of short-term in vivo in combination with in vitro solubility studies. Indeed, the European Union has incorporated some of this knowledge, e.g., persistence in the lung into its recent Directive on fiber classification.

Intestinal tract infection by Chlamydia psittaci was demonstrated in one cattle herd by isolation from faecal specimens, using embryonated eggs. Such infections were observed in all animals younger than 12 months, in 60% of the heifers and in none of the adult cows. The presence of infection correlated (r=0.511) with the serum titre of compliment fixation antibodies against chlamydial antigen. Young calves, which were spontaneously infected with Chlamydia postnatally, developed ileitis and moderate interstitial pneumonia. The results of histological sections and isolation of the agent from tissue specimens indicated Chlamydia to be the cause of these conditions. The strain isolated (ROS DK/KVL 6/B3) was identified as C. psittaci. The morphology of the organism and it's pathogenicity in guinea-pigs were studied. In embryonated eggs, a dose-response curve was demonstrated for the ROS strain, which differed in that respect from another member of this species tested, viz. EBA (59-795).

The recent phase III intergroup trial showed no improvement in outcome with the use of second- and third-generation regimens for primary treatment of aggressive lymphomas. Efforts are now underway to significantly intensify therapies for patients with high-risk aggressive lymphoma by utilizing hematopoietic growth factors or autologous peripheral blood stem cells. Preliminary results show minimal or no benefit to intensification of standard regimens using growth factor support alone. However, high-risk patients who achieve a complete remission with standard therapy appear to benefit from consolidative bone marrow transplantation. Results of a novel, dose-intense regimen, which administers several non-cross-resistant drugs as high-dose single agents in rapid succession, may provide a promising alternative for primary therapy of high-risk aggressive lymphoma. New regimens incorporating high-dose cytarabine for patients with poor prognosis, small noncleaved-cell lymphoma seem to improve survival. The ability to effectively tailor therapy for subgroups of patients with aggressive lymphoma depends on the continued identification of clinical and biologic prognostic factors to compliment the International Prognostic Factors Index.

Developmental dyslexia is a heritable disability characterized by difficulties in learning to read and write. The neurobiological and genetic mechanisms underlying dyslexia remain poorly understood; however, several dyslexia candidate risk genes have been identified. One of these candidate risk genes-doublecortin domain containing 2 (DCDC2)-has been shown to play a role in neuronal migration and cilia function. At a behavioral level, variants of DCDC2 have been associated with impairments in phonological processing, working memory and reading speed. Additionally, a specific mutation in DCDC2 has been strongly linked to deficits in motion perception-a skill subserving reading abilities. To further explore the relationship between DCDC2 and dyslexia, a genetic knockout (KO) of the rodent homolog of DCDC2 (Dcdc2) was created. Initial studies showed that Dcdc2 KOs display deficits in auditory processing and working memory. The current study was designed to evaluate the association between DCDC2 and motion perception, as these skills have not yet been assessed in the Dcdc2 KO mouse model. We developed a novel motion perception task, utilizing touchscreen technology and operant conditioning. Dcdc2 KOs displayed deficits on the Pairwise Discrimination task specifically as motion was added to visual stimuli. Following behavioral assessment, brains were histologically prepared for neuroanatomical analysis of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). The cumulative distribution showed that Dcdc2 KOs exhibited more small neurons and fewer larger neurons in the LGN. Results compliment findings that DCDC2 genetic alteration results in anomalies in visual motion pathways in a subpopulation of dyslexic patients.