Assessing the welfare of genetically altered mice

In 2003, under the auspices of the main UK funders of biological and biomedical research, a working group was established with a remit to review potential welfare issues for genetically altered (GA) mice, to summarize current practice, and to recommend contemporary best practice for welfare assessments. The working group has produced a report which makes practical recommendations for GA mouse welfare assessment and dissemination of welfare information between establishments using a 'mouse passport'. The report can be found at www.nc3rs.org.uk/GAmice and www.lal.org.uk/gaa and includes templates for the recommended welfare assessment scheme and the mouse passport. An overview is provided below.

Application of a Quantum Cascade Laser for Time-Resolved, in Situ Probing of CH4/H2 and C2H2/H2 Gas Mixtures during Microwave Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition of Diamond

First illustrations of the utility of pulsed quantum cascade lasers for in situ probing of the chemistry prevailing in microwave plasma activated hydrocarbon/Ar/H2 gas mixtures used for diamond thin film growth are reported. CH4 and C2H2 molecules, and their interconversion, have been monitored by line-of-sight single pass absorption methods, as a function of process conditions (e.g., choice of input hydrocarbon (CH4 or C2H2), hydrocarbon mole fraction, total gas pressure, and applied microwave power). The observed trends can be rationalized, qualitatively, within the framework of the previously reported modeling of the gas-phase chemistry prevailing in hot filament activated hydrocarbon/H2 gas mixtures (Ashfold et al. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2001, 3, 3471). Column densities of vibrationally excited C2H2(v5=1) molecules at low input carbon fractions are shown to be far higher than expected on the basis of local thermodynamic equilibrium. The presence of vibrationally excited C2H2 molecules (C2H2(double dagger)) can be attributed to the exothermicity of the C2H3 + H <==> C2H2 + H2 elementary reaction within the overall multistep CH4 --> C2H2 conversion. Diagnostic methods that sample just C2H2(v=0) molecules thus run the risk of underestimating total C2H2 column densities in hydrocarbon/H2 mixtures operated under conditions where the production rate of C2H2(double dagger) molecules exceeds their vibrational relaxation (and thermal equilibration) rates.

Objective measurement of cough during pulmonary exacerbations in adults with cystic fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Little is known about cough frequency in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). This study aimed to determine (1) daytime and overnight cough rates in patients with CF at the beginning and end of a course of antibiotics for treatment of an exacerbation; (2) the relationship between cough frequencies and standard clinical measures of disease; and (3) the relationship between objective cough rates and the subjective assessment of cough.

METHODS

Nineteen adult patients admitted with a pulmonary exacerbation performed daytime and overnight sound recordings on admission; 13 had repeat recordings prior to discharge. Coughs were manually quantified in cough seconds (time spent coughing). Patients subjectively scored their cough using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and numerical score. Lung function, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and sputum weights were recorded.

RESULTS

Cough rates fell substantially with treatment; median fall in cough rate was 51.3% (IQR 32.3-77.5) (p<0.001) for daytime and 72.2% (28.6-90.1) (p = 0.049) for overnight. Multivariate regression analyses showed that forced expiratory volume in 1 second and CRP levels predicted overnight cough rates on admission. On discharge, sputum volume predicted daytime cough rates. Only the change in overnight VAS correlated with the change in objective cough rates.

CONCLUSIONS

The cough rate significantly decreases with treatment of a pulmonary exacerbation in adults with CF. Lung function, sputum volume, and CRP influences the cough rate, with the effects differing from day to night and between admission and discharge. Subjective reporting of a nocturnal cough may indicate a pulmonary exacerbation of CF in adults.

First Report of Dieback and Leaf Lesions on Rhododendron sp. Caused by Phytophthora hedraiandra in the United States

Surveys for Phytophthora ramorum in Minnesota nurseries revealed the presence of P. hedraiandra de Cock & Man in't Veld and several other Phytophthora species but not P. ramorum. Symptomatic leaf and stem tissues from diseased Rhododendron and Quercus species were cultured on PARP, a selective growth medium for Phytophthora (3). The Phytophthora isolates obtained were later identified by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rDNA and comparing the sequences with those in GenBank using BLAST searches (1). The ITS sequences of six cultures (GenBank Accession Nos. DQ139804-DQ139809), isolated during 2003 from various Rhododendron cultivars exhibiting leaf lesions and shoot dieback, showed 100% identity with the ITS sequence of P. hedraiandra (GenBank Accession No. AY707987) (2). This is a recently described pathogenic species from the Netherlands responsible for causing leaf spots on Viburnum spp. Since the ITS sequence of P. hedraiandra differs little from that of P. cactorum (2), we verified one isolate to be P. hedraiandra by sequencing the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (cox1) (GenBank Accession No. DQ139810). Comparison of this sequence with the P. hedraiandra voucher specimen in GenBank (Accession No. AY769115) showed 99% identity, which was the closest match. Reproductive structures were measured on V8 juice agar. The average oogonium diameter for three isolates was 29 μm with a range of 26 to 32 μm, while the average antheridium length was 13 μm (11 to 15 μm). Sporangium length and width averages on crushed hemp seeds were 32 μm (28 to 36 μm) and 26 μm (21 to 30 μm), respectively, with the average length to width ratio of 1.25 (1.23 to 1.29). Pathogenicity tests on Rhododendron cv. Mikkeli were carried out using three of our P. hedraiandra isolates. Spore suspensions of 2 × 10⁴ zoospores per ml were used to mist-spray shoots of five, 3-year-old plants for each isolate. Five controls were mist sprayed with water. After inoculation, plants were placed in plastic bags in a dark growth chamber (22°C) for 7 days and then moved to a greenhouse. Leaf blotches and shoot dieback were apparent 5 days after inoculation, and P. hedraiandra was reisolated from those symptomatic tissues and identified by an exact match of the ITS sequence. Necrotic areas lengthened from the shoot tips to the main stems of the plants while expanding into petioles and leaves. No symptoms were observed on control plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. hedraiandra in the United States as well as the first report of Koch's postulates performed with P. hedraiandra on Rhododendron cv. Mikkeli. The significance of this disease to other woody plants in nurseries or the landscape is unknown, and further study is needed to determine the host range and extent of the disease that may occur from this introduction. References: (1) S. F. Altschul et al. J. Mol. Biol. 215:403, 1990. (2) A. W. A.M de Cock and C. A. Lévesque. Stud Mycol 50:481, 2004. (3) D. C. Erwin and O. K. Ribeiro. Phytophthora Diseases Worldwide. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1996.

Process-oriented administration of the picture arrangement test does not affect the quantitative outcome

Extracting the maximum amount of qualitative information of cognitive functioning from tests is one of the major goals, of the process approach to neuropsychological assessment. This study examined whether there is a difference in score in the Picture Arrangement (PA) test of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised for participants who completed the standardized versus a process-oriented administration (i.e., asking the person to "tell the story" immediately following each item). Eighteen traumatic brain injury patients and 20 control participants (i. e., non-brain-injury volunteers) were randomly assigned to the standardized administration or the process-oriented administration of the PA test. A 2 x 2 (Group x Type of Administration) analysis of variance revealed no statistically significant interaction effect or main effect for type of administration. Therefore, the process of maximizing the elicitation of qualitative information does not appear to affect the quantitative outcome of the PA test.

The serine/threonine protein kinase, p90 ribosomal S6 kinase, is an important regulator of prostate cancer cell proliferation

An increase in the activity of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) has been correlated with the progression of prostate cancer to advanced disease in humans. The serine/threonine protein kinase p90-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) is an important downstream effector of MAPK but its role in prostate cancer has not previously been examined. Increasing RSK isoform 2 (RSK2) levels in the human prostate cancer line, LNCaP, enhanced prostate-specific antigen (PSA) expression, an important diagnostic marker for prostate cancer, whereas inhibiting RSK activity using a RSK-specific inhibitor, 3Ac-SL0101, decreased PSA expression. The RSK2 regulation of PSA expression occurred via a mechanism involving both RSK2 kinase activity and its ability to associate with the coactivator, p300. RNA interference of the androgen receptor (AR) showed that the AR was important in the RSK2-mediated increase in PSA expression. RSK levels are higher in approximately 50% of human prostate cancers compared with normal prostate tissue, which suggests that increased RSK levels may participate in the rise in PSA expression that occurs in prostate cancer. Furthermore, 3Ac-SL0101 inhibited proliferation of the LNCaP line and the androgen-independent human prostate cancer line, PC-3. These results suggest that proliferation of some prostate cancer cells is dependent on RSK activity and support the hypothesis that RSK may be an important chemotherapeutic target for prostate cancer.

Orbital socket contracture: a complication of inflammatory orbital disease in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis

AIM

To describe the clinical characteristics of orbital socket contracture in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG).

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study The medical records of 256 patients with WG examined at the National Institutes of Health from 1967 to 2004 were reviewed to identify patients with orbital socket contracture. Details of the orbital disease including Hertel exophthalmometry readings, radiological findings, and results of eye examinations were recorded. Orbital socket contracture was defined as orbital inflammation with proptosis followed by the development of enophthalmos and radiographic evidence of residual fibrotic changes in the orbit. To examine for risk factors in the development of a contracted orbit, patients with orbital socket contracture were compared to patients without contracture with respect to multiple variables including history of orbital surgery, orbital disease severity, and major organ system involvement. The main outcome measures were the clinical characteristics of orbital socket contracture associated with inflammatory orbital disease in patients with WG.

RESULTS

Inflammatory orbital disease occurred in 34 of 256 (13%) patients and detailed clinical data on 18 patients were available and examined. Orbital socket contracture occurred during the clinical course in six patients; the features included restrictive ophthalmopathy (five), chronic orbital pain (three), and ischaemic optic nerve disease (two) resulting in blindness (no light perception) in one patient. The orbital socket contracture occurred within 3 months of treatment with immunosuppressive medications for inflammatory orbital disease in five patients and was not responsive to immunosuppressive medications. The median degree of enophthalmos in the contracted orbit compared with the fellow eye was 2.8 mm (range 1.5-3.5 mm) by Hertel exophthalmometry. There were no risk factors that predicted development of orbital socket contracture.

CONCLUSIONS

In six patients with WG and active inflammatory orbital disease, orbital socket contracture occurred during the treatment course with systemic immunosuppressive medications. The orbital socket contracture, presumably caused by orbital fibrosis, led to enophthalmos, restrictive ophthalmopathy, chronic orbital pain, and optic nerve disease and was not responsive to immunosuppressive therapy. Orbital socket contracture has not been previously reported as a complication of inflammatory orbital disease associated with WG and was an important cause of visual morbidity in our cohort of patients.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) molecular signature in conjunctival mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma

Conjunctival mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is an extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma that is characterized by an exaggerated clonal expansion of B cells, which implicate a pathological proliferative response to antigen(s) including bacteria. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is recognized as one of the causative agents of gastric MALT lymphoma; however, it has not been reported in extra gastric MALT lymphoma. We studied 5 patients (4 adults and 1 child) with salmon-colored conjunctival lesions. One patient also had a history of abnormal bone marrow biopsy a year earlier with lymphoid aggregates involving 5% of the overall bone marrow. The conjunctival lesions of the 5 patients were biopsied. Histopathological diagnoses were consistent with conjunctival MALT lymphoma. Lymphoma and normal conjunctival cells were microdissected using laser capture microscopy or manual techniques. DNA was extracted and subjected to PCR amplification using H. pylori gene-specific primers from the urease B and vac/m2 gene. Cells from chronic conjunctivitis (normal lymphocytes), conjunctival human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1/adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (HTLV-1/ATL), and orbital B-cell lymphoma were also microdissected, processed and analyzed. PCR amplification and Southern blot hybridization demonstrated H. pylori DNA in the conjunctival MALT lymphoma cells of 4/5 cases. The negative case was the one with a history of abnormal bone marrow. In contrast, H. pylori gene was not detected in normal conjunctival cells from the cases of MALT lymphoma or the lymphocytes, ATL and orbital B-lymphoma cells from the controls. These data suggest that H. pylori may play a role in conjunctival MALT lymphoma.