Choroid plexus papillomas in childhood

Chroid plexus papillomas account for only 0.4-0.6% of intracranial tumours at all ages and less than 5% in childhood. Two paediatric cases are reported to demonstrate the variability in clinical presentation, location and neurological outcome of this benign tumour. One case has been followed for 13 years.

An analysis of lymphocyte phenotype after steroid avoidance with either alemtuzumab or basiliximab induction in renal transplantation

Several studies have analyzed the phenotype of repopulated T-lymphocytes following alemtuzumab induction; however there has been less scrutiny of the reconstituted B-cell compartment. In the context of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing alemtuzumab induction with tacrolimus monotherapy against basiliximab induction with tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) therapy in renal transplantation, we analyzed the peripheral B- and T-lymphocyte phenotypes of patients at a mean of 25 +/- 2 months after transplantation. We examined the relationship between peripheral lymphocyte phenotype and graft function. Patients who received alemtuzumab had significantly higher numbers of B cells including naïve, transitional and regulatory subsets. In contrast, the CD4(+) T-cell compartment was dominated by a memory cell phenotype. Following either basiliximab or alemtuzumab induction patients with lower numbers of B cells or B subsets had significantly worse graft function. For alemtuzumab there was also a correlation between these subsets the stability of graft function and the presence of HLA-specific antibodies. These results demonstrate that a significant expansion of regulatory type B cells is associated with superior graft function and that this pattern is more common after alemtuzumab induction. This phenomenon requires further prospective study to see whether this phenotype could be used to customize immunotherapy.

Effectiveness of semantic therapy for word-finding difficulties in pupils with persistent language impairments: a randomized control trial

BACKGROUND

Word-finding difficulties (WFDs) in children have been hypothesized to be caused at least partly by poor semantic knowledge. Therefore, improving semantic knowledge should decrease word-finding errors. Previous studies of semantic therapy for WFDs are inconclusive.

AIMS

To investigate the effectiveness of semantic therapy for secondary school-aged pupils with WFDs using a randomized control trial with blind assessment.

METHODS & PROCEDURES

Fifteen participants with language impairments and WFDs (aged 9;11-15;11) were randomly assigned to a therapy versus waiting control group. In Phase 1 the therapy group received two 15-min semantic therapy sessions per week for 8 weeks with their usual speech and language therapist. Therapy for each participant targeted words from one of three semantic categories (animals, food, clothes). All participants were tested pre- and post-phase 1 therapy on the brief version of the Test of Adolescent Word Finding (TAWF), semantic fluency and the Test of Word Finding in Discourse (TWFD). In Phase 2 the waiting control group received the same therapy as the original therapy group, which received therapy targeted at other language areas. Testing after Phase 2 aimed to establish whether the waiting control group made similar progress to the original therapy group and whether the original therapy group maintained any gains.

OUTCOMES & RESULTS

The original therapy group made significant progress in standard scores on the TAWF (d= 0.94), which was maintained 5 months later. However, they made no progress on the semantic fluency or discourse tests. Participants in the waiting control group did not make significant progress on the TAWF in Phase 1 when they received no word-finding therapy. However, after Phase 2, when they received the therapy, they also made significant progress (d= 0.81). The combined effect of therapy over the two groups was d= 1.2. The mean standard scores on the TAWF were 67 pre-therapy and 77 post-therapy.

CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS

Four hours of semantic therapy on discrete semantic categories led to significant gains on a general standardized test of word finding, enabling the participants to begin to close the gap between their performance and that of their typically developing peers. These gains were maintained after 5 months. A small amount of therapy can lead to significant gains even with secondary aged pupils with severe language difficulties. However, further studies are needed to find ways of improving word-finding abilities in discourse.

Endogenous endophthalmitis: 10-year experience at a tertiary referral centre

PURPOSE

Endogenous endophthalmitis (EE) is a sight-threatening emergency and the aetiology is often multifactorial. Delayed diagnosis may exacerbate the poor visual prognosis. We describe the management and visual outcomes of EE presenting to a tertiary referral centre.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prospective consecutive case series of 64 patients presenting with presumed EE from 1997 to 2007 to the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital were included. All data were collected in a standardized manner. Outcome measures included: visual acuity, microbial profiles, and vitrectomy rate.

RESULTS

In total, 64 cases of EE were identified over the study period with a mean age of 57.5 years, and 53.5% were male. Presenting acuities ranged from Snellen 6/6 to no perception of light (NPL). Identifiable risk factors were present in 78.1%, with the majority related to intravenous drug abuse. A 64.1% culture positivity rate was recorded. A vitrectomy rate of 57, 56, and 21% was recorded in documented bacterial, fungal, and no growth cases, respectively. Final Snellen acuities ranged from 6/6 to NPL. A total of 5 out of 64 eyes were enucleated, of which 3 identified Klebsiella species. Better visual outcome was documented in fungal cases.

CONCLUSION

EE is a serious ocular condition and has a varied aetiology. Visual outcomes are often poor, irrespective of the method of management. Fungal aetiology often confers a better prognosis, and vitrectomy is advocated for bacterial proven cases.

The HLA system: immunobiology, HLA typing, antibody screening and crossmatching techniques

The Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) system plays a critical role in regulating the immune response. As a consequence of its role in immune regulation and exquisite polymorphism, the HLA system also constitutes an immunological barrier which must be avoided or otherwise overcome in clinical transplantation. This introductory review provides a brief summary of the immunobiology of the HLA system and methodology for HLA typing, antibody screening and patient-donor cross-matching. This constitutes a basis for consideration of the importance of these procedures in the system-specific reviews which follow.

Perceptions and views of regulatory pharmacists on the registration system for generic drugs for human use in Kenya

BACKGROUND

Generic drugs play an important role in the delivery of healthcare services in Kenya because of their affordability and availability. The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) is the body mandated to regulate the manufacture and supply of all drugs in Kenya. Approximately 90% of all applications for registration of drugs in Kenya are for generic drugs; however, there are concerns about the quality of generic drugs supplied to patients in Kenya.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to investigate the perceptions and views of the regulatory pharmacists on the registration system for generic drugs in Kenya, and the role of the National Quality Control Laboratory (NQCL).

DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey was designed to collect the views and perceptions of regulatory pharmacists on the system for the registration of generic drugs for human use in Kenya.

SETTING

The survey was conducted in the capital city of Kenya, Nairobi from January to February 2007. Nairobi was selected because it has a high concentration of pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors involved in drug registration.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample included regulatory pharmacists working in the registration departments of pharmaceutical companies dealing in generic drugs for human use. A sample of 40 participants was recruited for the survey and a response rate of 60% was targeted.

RESULTS

Over half (55.6%) of the respondents reported satisfaction with the drug registration system while 33.3% were unsatisfied. The level of satisfaction did not seem to be associated with the length of time it takes to register a generic drug (p-value=0.74) or the gender of the respondent (p-value=0.94). The respondents had confidence in the analytical procedures carried out by NQCL but were less satisfied with its role in generic drug registration process. The respondents made a number of recommendations towards better drug registration mechanisms for generic drugs in Kenya.

CONCLUSION

The study suggests that although the drug registration procedures appear to be working, there is need for improvement. One area in which the registration of generic drugs in Kenya can benefit is in the observation of the operation of what other countries have done to streamline their drug registration systems.

169. THE MECHANISM OF SPERMATID MATURATION - A LINK TO TUMOUR SUPPRESSION

To comprehensively uncover novel male fertility regulators, we utilised an unbiased forward genetic screen, ENU mutagenesis. Using this approach, we have identified several novel infertile mouse lines including a male-specific infertile line that we designated ‘Joey’. The mutant Joey mice produced no sperm due to an arrest of male germ cells at the round spermatid stage. The mutation was identified in the RNA binding motif 5 (Rbm5) gene that resulted in an arginine to proline substitution within a highly conserved RNA recognition motif of the protein. The substitution of proline is likely to interfere with RNA binding and/or recognition. In humans, the RBM5 gene maps to a region that is frequently deleted in lung cancers. Ex vivo studies have suggested that RBM5 is a tumour suppressor, apoptosis modulator and RNA splicing regulator. To date, the role of Rbm5 has never been liked to male fertility and the Joey line is the only mouse model of Rbm5 dysfunction. Using our RBM5-specific antibody, we showed that RBM5 is expressed in pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids. Based on the protein localisation, the proposed role of RBM5 in mRNA processing, the onset of the Joey phenotype, and the site of the identified mutation, we hypothesise that the Rbm5 mutant allele results in a hypomorphic protein, and that RBM5 has an essential role in regulating male germ cell mRNA storage, transport and/or translational regulation of mRNAs that are critical for spermatid maturation. Further, we generated mice compound heterozygous of the Joey Rbm5 mutation and Rbm5 null alleles. We showed that the compound heterozygous males are infertile due to spermatid maturation arrest resembling the Joey mutant males. This result further confirmed the identification of the Rbm5 mutation as a cause of infertility in the Joey mice and a crucial role of Rbm5 in male fertility.