Death in four RHDV2-vaccinated pet rabbits due to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2)

OBJECTIVES

To create awareness of single RHDV2 infections and cases of death despite immunisation with RHDV2-specific vaccine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective case series of four companion rabbits. Patient signalment, vaccination history, pathology and molecular examinations were obtained from the medical records.

RESULTS

The animals died peracutely or with nonspecific symptoms like apathy and inappetence. Pathological examination indicated and molecular biological findings confirmed RHDV2 infection in four animals. Several partner animals died at the same time under the same circumstances.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

This is the first report of fatalities in RHDV2-vaccinated companion rabbits due to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 infection with documented case and vaccination history. Veterinarians should be aware of possible single fatal RHDV2 infections despite vaccination, should initiate the clarification of suspected cases and inform vaccine manufacturers and competent authorities.

ECT response after relapse during continuation repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. A case report

Research on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) indicates that the treatment of non-psychotic depression is comparable to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in terms of short-term outcome. We report on a woman who exerted a recurrent moderate major depressive episode, 6 months after discontinuation of maintenance ECT. She responded to acute rTMS treatment which was followed by the rTMS maintenance-protocol. Within 2 months of continuation rTMS she relapsed suffering from a severe non psychotic depressive episode and had to be switched to a successful ECT. In this patient rTMS had a good clinical impact as an acute treatment strategy, but failed to prevent relapse as the continuation ECT previously did in the same patient.

New functionalized poly(arylene-ether ketone)s and their use as modifiers for bismaleimide resin

A series of new functionalized poly(arylene-ether ketone) copolymers has been prepared by the nucleophilic aromatic displacement reaction from 4,4'-difluorobenzophenone and mixtures of bisphenol-A and 2,2'-bis(3-allyl,4-hydroxyphenyl)-hexat Luoropropane (6F-DABA) in the presence of potassium carbonate. The propenyl functional groups are statistically distributed along the polymer backbone and their concentration was tailored by adjusting the concentration of the starting monomers. These functionalized poly(aryleneether ketone)s (FPAEK) were used as thermoplastic modifiers for a bismaleimide (BMI) resin. The influence of the propenyl group concentration on the toughness of BMI,'FPAEK blend systems was studied.

Comonomers for Bismaleimides: o,o'-Diallylbisphenols

A series of new diallylethers has been synthesized from selected bisphe nols. Several of these bisphenols, notably 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-p-diisopropylbenzene, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-m-diisopropylben zene and 9,9'-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, were converted to the corresponding o,o' diallylbisphenols. These new materials were thermally copolymerized with bismaleimides to give tough, high Tg copolymer networks .

Bis[3-(2-Allylphenoxy) Phthalimides]: A New Class of Comonomers for Bismaleimides

A series of new bis[3-(2-allylphenoxy) phthalimides] has been synthe sized from bis(3-nitrophthalimides) and o-allylphenol-Na involving a nucleophilic nitrodisplacement reaction. H-NMR spectra indicate that under the mild reaction conditions used (55°C), only 4-5% of the allylphenoxy groups are isomerized to propenylphenoxy groups. The new bis(allylphenoxyphthalimides) are useful comonomers for bismaleimides. Blends of bis (allylphenoxyphthalimides) and bismaleimides thermally copolymerize to tough, high Tg copolymer networks.

Effects of contextual information and stimulus ambiguity on overt visual sampling behavior

The sampling of our visual environment through saccadic eye movements is an essential function of the brain, allowing us to overcome the limits of peripheral vision. Understanding which parts of a scene attract overt visual attention is subject to intense research, and considerable progress has been made in unraveling the underlying cortical mechanisms. In contrast to spatial aspects, however, relatively little is understood about temporal aspects of overt visual sampling. At every fixation, the oculomotor system faces the decision whether to keep exploring different aspects of an object or scene or whether to remain fixated to allow for in-depth cortical processing - a situation that can be understood in terms of an exploration-exploitation dilemma. To improve our understanding of the factors involved in these decisions, we here investigate how the level of visual information, experimentally manipulated by scene context and stimulus ambiguity, changes the sampling behavior preceding the recognition of centrally presented ambiguous and disambiguated objects. Behaviorally, we find that context, although only presented until the first voluntary saccade, biases the perceptual outcome and significantly reduces reaction times. Importantly, we find that increased information about an object significantly alters its visual exploration, as evident through increased fixation durations and reduced saccade amplitudes. These results demonstrate that the initial sampling of an object, preceding its recognition, is subject to change based on the amount of information available in the system: increased evidence for its identity biases the exploration-exploitation strategy towards in-depth analyses.

Clinical course and pathology in rats (Rattus norvegicus) after experimental cowpox virus infection by percutaneous and intranasal application

Recently, several cases of human cowpox virus (CPXV) infections were reported in France and Germany, which had been acquired through close contact with infected pet rats. The animals exhibited respiratory signs or skin lesions and died shortly after purchase. After natural infection of white rats with CPXV in the USSR in 1978, a peracute pulmonary form, a milder dermal form, and a mixed form exhibiting features of both have been described. To the best of the authors' knowledge, 3 experimental cowpox virus infection studies using rats have been performed to date; however, neither results of histomorphological examinations nor immunohistochemical analyses have yet been reported in rats after experimental infections. To investigate the impact of the infection route on the clinical course, the development of lesions, and tropism, rats were infected intradermally, intranasally, or by a combination of both routes. The authors found a correlation between clinical manifestation, pathology, and infection routes. Intradermal and contact exposure yielded a mild dermal form, characterized by the development of vesiculopustular dermatitis. In contrast, intranasally infected animals died peracutely, showing severe dyspnea. Occasionally, a combination of the dermal and the respiratory form occurred after intranasal infection. Immunohistochemically, CPXV antigen was detected in the epithelial and mesenchymal cells of the upper respiratory tract and affected skin lesions and rarely in mesenchymal cells of lymph nodes. This is the first histomorphological and immunohistochemical analysis of CPXV in rats after experimental infection.

Characterisation of a new infectious full-length cDNA clone of BVDV genotype 2 and generation of virus mutants

Based on their genomic sequences, two genotypes of Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) can be differentiated, BVDV type 1 (BVDV-1) and BVDV type 2 (BVDV-2). The complete genomic sequence of the highly virulent BVDV-2 strain 890 was cloned as cDNA to establish the infectious cDNA clone p890FL. In vitro-synthesised full-length RNA of p890FL was transfected into bovine cells and infectious virus could be recovered (v890FL). In vitro, recombinant v890FL showed similar growth characteristics as wild type virus v890WT. However, infection experiments in calves revealed an attenuation of recombinant v890FL in comparison to the parental isolate. Both leukocytopenia and fever were less pronounced in v890FL-infected calves. Nevertheless, viremia and virus shedding were comparable between recombinant and parental BVDV 890. Furthermore, mutants with partial deletions of the genomic region encoding for the autoprotease N(pro) (p890DeltaN(pro)) or the capsid protein (p890DeltaC) were constructed and characterised. In order to generate pseudovirions, replicon p890DeltaC was efficiently trans-complemented on a helper cell line. In summary, the newly developed construct p890FL represents the first infectious full-length cDNA clone for the BVDV-2 strain 890 and offers a useful tool for further studies on the pathogenesis of BVDV-2 and the development of novel recombinant BVDV-2 specific vaccine candidates.

Timothy grass pollen major allergen Phl p 1 activates respiratory epithelial cells by a non-protease mechanism

BACKGROUND

Group 1 allergens from grass pollen (e.g. Phl p 1, the major allergen of timothy grass Phleum pratense) cause IgE reactivity in about 95% of allergic subjects and exist in all grass species. The respiratory epithelium represents a first line of contact of the immune system with airborne allergens, functions as physical barrier and is an important immunological regulation system.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of Phl p 1 with human respiratory epithelium to elucidate the contribution of epithelial cells to the development of allergic reactions.

METHODS

Purified Phl p 1 was used to stimulate A549 cells and transient transfected HEK293 cells. mRNA level of different mediators were investigated by real-time PCR, release of the mediators was determined by ELISA. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test and an ex vivo model of the murine trachea were used to investigate a potential proteolytic activity of Phl p 1.

RESULTS

Phl p 1 activates respiratory epithelial cells as measured by induction of IL-6, IL-8 and TGF-beta mRNA and release. Phl p 1, in contrast to Der p 1 from the house dust mite, does not exert proteolytic activity, as investigated by microscopic observation and MTT test. In an ex vivo model of the murine trachea we were able to show that Der p 1, in contrast to Phl p 1, enhances the transportation velocity of particles by the trachea, presumably by ATP released from the injured epithelium.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that under physiological conditions Phl p 1 affects tracheal epithelial cells through a non-proteolytic activity. Enhancement of TGF-beta expression induced by Phl p 1 together with the increased release of IL-6 and IL-8 might provide an indirect mechanism through which the allergen may cross the epithelial barrier and attracts immunocompetent cells.

Muscarinic receptor subtypes in cilia-driven transport and airway epithelial development

Ciliary beating of airway epithelial cells drives the removal of mucus and particles from the airways. Mucociliary transport and possibly airway epithelial development are governed by muscarinic acetylcholine receptors but the precise roles of the subtypes involved are unknown. This issue was addressed by determining cilia-driven particle transport, ciliary beat frequency, and the composition and ultrastructural morphology of the tracheal epithelium in M1-M5 muscarinic receptor gene-deficient mice. Knockout of M3 muscarinic receptors prevented an increase in particle transport speed and ciliary beat frequency in response to muscarine. Furthermore, the ATP response after application of muscarine was blunted. Pretreatment with atropine before application of muscarine restored the response to ATP. Additional knockout of the M2 receptor in these mice partially restored the muscarine effect, most likely through the M1 receptor, and normalised the ATP response. M1, M4 and M5 receptor-deficient mice exhibited normal responses to muscarine. None of the investigated mutant mouse strains had any impairment of epithelial cellular structure or composition. In conclusion, M3 receptors stimulate whereas M2 receptors inhibit cilia-driven particle transport. The M1 receptor increases cilia-driven particle transport if the M3 and M2 receptors are missing. None of the receptors is necessary for epithelial development.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and amygdala-hippocampectomy

OBJECTIVE

The case report suggests the indispensability of preoperative accurate psychiatric checkups especially in temporal resections.

METHOD

A single case was reported.

RESULTS

We report the case of a 20-year-old woman suffering for 12 years from primary generalized epilepsy, attributed to left-sided hippocampal sclerosis. Because seizures were resistant to drug therapy, she underwent amygdala-hippocampectomy at the age of 18. Furthermore, she had previously been victim of childhood sexual abuse. Two weeks after epilepsy surgery, she manifested symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

CONCLUSION

There is evidence that the amygdala-hippocampal region is both functionally and morphologically involved in the aetiology of PTSD. The removal of this marked neuroanatomical region and the resulting disconnection and asymmetry between right and left amygdala-hippocampal region might be seen as an evidence for this region aetiologically being involved in the patient's PTSD symptoms.

Effect of nebulized albuterol on blood glucose in patients with diabetes mellitus with and without cystic fibrosis

Over 90% of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are treated with bronchodilators, and 6% have diabetes. Some with asthma also have diabetes, and most are treated with bronchodilators. Systemic administration of adrenergic agents can cause increases in blood glucose, but the effect of inhaled agents is unclear. A double-blind study was performed on 10 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) without CF (3 male, 7 female, mean age 25.5 years) and 9 patients with insulin-dependent CF-related diabetes (CFRD) (8 male, 1 female, mean age 21.9 years). On 2 separate days before 9 AM fasting and the morning dose of insulin, 2.5 mg of albuterol or nebulized placebo were given. Blood glucose was measured by finger stick with a glucose reflectance meter before and 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after treatment. No significant changes from baseline or differences between placebo and albuterol occurred in either group. The mean maximum increase from baseline in DM was 20 mg/dl on placebo, and 38 mg/dl on albuterol; in the CFRD, the respective changes were 7 and 7 mg/dl. Two DM patients had a > 50 mg/dl increase on albuterol vs. placebo; no CFRD patients had differences of such magnitude. DM patients had greater increases from baseline than CFRD patients on placebo and albuterol. Differences reached statistical significance at 30 and 45 min on placebo, and 45 min on albuterol. Albuterol 2.5 mg by nebulizer causes no clinically significant increases in blood glucose in DM or CFRD patients. Diabetes patients without CF have a significantly greater increase of glucose with time (placebo or albuterol) than CFRD patients.