Isolation of salmonid alphavirus subtype 6 from wild-caught ballan wrasse, Labrus bergylta (Ascanius)

The use of cleaner fish as a biological control for sea lice in Atlantic salmon aquaculture has increased in recent years. Wild-caught wrasse are commonly used as cleaner fish in Europe. In Ireland, samples of wrasse from each fishing area are screened for potential pathogens prior to their deployment into sea cages. Salmonid alphavirus was isolated from a pooled sample of ballan wrasse, showing no signs of disease, caught from the NW of Ireland. Partial sequencing of the E2 and nsP3 genes showed that it was closely related to the previously reported SAV subtype 6. This represents only the second isolation of this subtype and the first from a wild fish species, namely ballan wrasse.

Isolation of Streptococcus agalactiae and an aquatic birnavirus from doctor fish Garra rufa L

Background

The doctor fish, Garra rufa, has become increasingly popular as a treatment for skin disorders and for pedicures in recent years. Despite this there is very little information available regarding the welfare of these fish and the range of potential pathogens they may carry. In this study, a group of fish suffering from post-transport mortalities were examined and the isolated pathogens identified.

Findings

Group B Streptococcus agalactiae was isolated from kidney swabs of the fish and found to be resistant to a number of antibiotics. In addition to this, a fish virus belonging to the aquabirnavirus group, serogroup C was isolated for the first time in Ireland. However, no clinical signs of disease typical of bacterial or viral infections were observed in any fish examined.

Conclusions

As no clinical signs of disease attributable to either of the pathogens identified were found it was concluded that the mortalities were most likely due to transport related stress exacerbated by the presence of the pathogens. Further work is required to assess the suitability of current transport strategies and to examine the potential risk associated with the transport of live ornamental fish.

Smooth muscle protein kinase C

Protein kinase C (PKC) was first implicated in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction with the observation that phorbol esters induce slowly developing, sustained contractions. In some vascular smooth muscles, e.g., ferret aorta, phorbol ester induced contractions occur without an increase in sarcoplasmic free-Ca2+ concentration ([Ca]i) or myosin light chain phosphorylation. This response appears to be mediated by a Ca(2+)-independent isoenzyme of PKC (probably PKC epsilon), since saponin-permeabilized single ferret aortic smooth muscle cells, which retain receptor coupling, developed force in response to phenylephrine at low free [Ca2+] (pCa 7.0-8.6) and the constitutively active proteolytic fragment of PKC (PKM) elicited a contraction at pCa 7 comparable with the phenylephrine-induced contraction. Both contractions were reversed by a pseudo-substrate peptide inhibitor of PKC. These observations suggest a mechanism whereby alpha-adrenergic agonists may elicit a contractile response without a Ca2+ signal: alpha-adrenergic stimulation of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C or D (the latter in conjunction with phosphatidate phosphohydrolase) generates diacylglycerol. In the absence of an increase in [Ca2+]i, diacylglycerol specifically activates so-called novel PKCs, of which epsilon is the only isoenzyme known to be expressed in vascular smooth muscle. Recent evidence suggests that PKC may trigger a cascade of phosphorylation reactions, resulting in activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphorylation of the thin filament associated protein caldesmon. Alternatively, or additionally, PKC may directly phosphorylate calponin, another thin filament associated protein. These phosphorylations are predicted to alleviate inhibition of the cross-bridge cycling rate by these thin-filament proteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Contraction of single vascular smooth muscle cells by phenylephrine at constant [Ca2+]i

The mechanism of alpha-adrenergic agonist-mediated force generation was investigated in single hyperpermeable vascular smooth muscle cells. By use of a previously described method, force was recorded from individual ferret aortic cells made hyperpermeable by exposure to saponin. When the cells were clamped at pCa 7, addition of protein kinase M (PKM), the constitutively active form of protein kinase C (PKC), caused a sustained increase in force, which was reversible upon addition of the PKC pseudosubstrate inhibitor peptide (PSSI) corresponding to residues 19-31 of PKC. Phenylephrine at pCa 7 caused a dose-dependent increase in contractile force of the hyperpermeable cells, which was reversible on addition of phentolamine. The phenylephrine contraction could also be inhibited by the same concentration of PSSI that was effective toward the PKM-induced contraction. The response of the cells to a constant [phenylephrine] in different Ca buffers showed a lack of Ca dependence between pCa 8.6 and 7.0. The addition of PSSI to unstimulated cells caused a small but significant drop in basal tone. Taken together, these results suggest that a fraction of the basal tone, as well as the phenylephrine contraction that occurs in the skinned cells at constant intracellular free Ca2+ concentration, is the result of activation of a Ca-independent isozyme of PKC.

Anticalculus effect of a dentifrice containing 0.5% zinc citrate trihydrate

A doubleblind 3-month anticalculus clinical study was conducted to determine the magnitude of the antitartar effect to be derived from use of a 0.5% zinc citrate dentifrice. From a population of 1600 subjects exhibiting calculus, 1210 subjects (age 18 and over) were selected and received a dental prophylaxis. The subjects were initially stratified on the basis of calculus score, age, and sex, then allocated randomly to a 3-month usage period of one of two treatment groups. These were a dentifrice containing 0.5% zinc citrate or a control dentifrice without zinc citrate. Calculus was assessed using the Volpe-Manhold Index. Oral soft tissue status was assessed throughout the course of the study. At the conclusion of the study 964 subjects had completed the trial: 486 using the zinc citrate dentifrice and 478 using the control. The results showed that the mean calculus scores in the group using the dentifrice containing zinc citrate were 13.7% lower than those of the group using the control dentifrice. This finding was statistically significant (P less than 0.05). No adverse effects related to the use of either dentifrice were observed.

Short course of antibiotic therapy in treatment of postpartum endomyometritis

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an abbreviated course of antibiotic therapy in postpartum endomyometritis, 109 patients with endomyometritis were randomized to three study groups. All were treated with clindamycin and tobramycin until afebrility and clinical signs of disease were absent. Patients in group I received antibiotics for greater than or equal to 24 hours, group II received therapy for greater than or equal to 48 hours, and group III received antibiotic therapy for greater than or equal to 48 hours that preceded a 7-day course of oral Augmentin. The groups were similar in size and in demographic and clinical parameters. Two patients from each group required a third antibiotic, and no patient required rehospitalization. Group III required more days of antibiotic therapy than did group I, 2.9 versus 2.1 days (p less than 0.01), and cost $412.00 more per patient. This data strongly suggest that a short course of antibiotic therapy is efficacious and safe and would result in substantial monetary savings.

Urinary fluoride levels of children residing in communities with naturally occurring fluorides in the drinking water

The studies by Dean and others in the 1930's established excessive fluorides as the causative agent in the mottling of teeth. Although cultural and dietary patterns have changed during the past half century, this study suggests that the fluoride intake has remained relatively constant and generally proportional to the community's water fluoride level.

A current study of mottled enamel in Texas

Enamel mottling is strongly associated with the water fluoride level of the community water supply. About 32% of the variation in the mottled enamel scores of subjects aged 7 to 12 was attributable to their community's water fluoride level. Objectionable mottling (moderate mottling) occurred at 2.3 times the currently accepted optimum water fluoride level. Subjects with incomes less than $10,000 have slightly more mottling (mostly moderate mottling) than subjects from higher income families. It should be emphasized that the effect of gender, ethnic group, or family income on enamel mottling is small compared with the effect of water fluoride level. Although many other personal and water supply characteristics were evaluated, virtually none of the remaining variation in mottled enamel scores could be attributed to any of these characteristics.

Synovial sarcoma of the neck: report of case

Synovial sarcoma is an uncommon neoplasm that usually arises in the extremities and rarely in the head and neck. A case arising in the neck has been reported herein. The tumor is composed of two intimately associated cellular patterns; one resembles synovial structures and the other resembles fibrosarcoma. The tumor is fairly slow growing and is fairly well circumscribed but not actually encapsulated. There is a predilection for males; most occur in the third through fifth decades of life. Recurrence follows inadequate therapy. Although local excision was the therapy used in this case, the patient is alive and free of disease 30 months postoperatively.