No abstract available.

There are a variety of viral pathogens that cause disease in mosquitoes with most belonging to three major groups. The most common viruses of mosquitoes are the baculoviruses (DBVs) (Baculoviridae: Deltabaculovirus), cytoplasmic polyhedrosis viruses (CPVs) (Reoviridae: Cypovirus) and the iridoviruses (MIVs) (Iridoviridae: Chloriridovirus). Baculoviruses and iridoviruses are DNA viruses while cypoviruses are the main RNA viruses in mosquitoes. This review presents an overview of the current status and recent advancements in understanding the biology and molecular features of mosquito pathogenic viruses.

Background There is a paucity of information available for clinical decision making applying to the elderly patient population. Therefore, data of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) including demographic information on the elderly patients, procedural practices, and outcomes are needed. Objectives and Methods From consecutive PCIs of participating institutions, demographics data, clinical, angiographic success and adverse clinical outcomes were collected. Standard statistical methods were used to compare crude differences in patient and procedural characteristics across age groups. Results At baseline, the prevalence of comorbid conditions ( renal failure and heart failure) increased with age. Unstable angina or a non-ST elevation MI were the most common indications for PCI across all age groups. Fewer patients ≥ 80 years old were undergoing primary PCI and older patients were somewhat less likely to receive a Ⅱb/Ⅲa receptor blocker. Slightly more patients ≥ 80 years old underwent a 2-vessel PCI ( consistent with them having more multivessel disease) and these patients were more likely to have an intervention on a Type C lesion. Compared to patients ＜ 50 years old, those aged ≥ 70 years old had a significantly increased risk of death, MI, stroke, or vascular complications at the access site. Conclusions This study suggests increasing age is associated with increasing risk for an adverse outcome following PCI. This is in part attributable to case-mix but likely, also related to the changing physiology of aging. Despite the increased risk of the procedure, the clinical success rate for PCI is quite high and makes it a reasonable alternative for the treatment of CAD in the elderly.

No abstract available.
Printing, Three-Dimensional* ; Regenerative Medicine* ; Tissue Engineering*

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a secondary metabolite in the breast milk of lactating mothers who consume foodstuffs infected by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus Parasiticus. The concentration of AFM1 in breast milk of lactating mothers is of major public health concern, because it can negatively affect the health of their babies. The major objective of this study was to assess the AFM1 concentration in the breast milk of lactating mothers in Papua New Guinea (PNG). This was a prospective cross-sectional study carried out between 2011 and 2015 in three of the four Regions in PNG: the National Capital District (NCD) in the Southern Region; Eastern Highlands (EHP) and Western Highlands (WHP) provinces in the Highlands Region; and East New Britain (ENB) and Manus provinces in the Islands Region. The Susu Mama, Well-Baby and Paediatric clinics in the General Hospitals in each of the selected provinces in the three regions were the primary sites for this study. A solid phase competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA 96 Microwell plates) was used for the quantification of AFM1 in breast milk from consented lactating mothers. A total of 874 lactating mothers and their babies participated in this study. The mean age of the mothers was 28.0 ±5.5 years. The age range of all the babies was 2 to 6 weeks. 76.1% (665/874) of all breast milk samples analyzed had detectable levels of AFM1. The concentration of AFM1 was above 10.00ppt in 89 (10.2%) of the 874 breast milk samples (which, according to the Australia / New Zealand / Austria safe cut-off limits for AFM1, makes them unsafe for consumption by the babies). The mean AFM1 concentration in the breast milk samples from lactating mothers in EHP (7.99ppt) was higher than that in the samples from the other 4 provinces in the present study. AFM1 concentration was above 10.00ppt in 14 (4.6%) of the 300 breast milk samples from NCD, in 62 (31.0%) of the 200 samples from EHP, in 10 (4.5%) of the 220 samples from ENB and in 3 (3.0%) of the 100 samples from WHP. In order to reduce the AFM1 concentrations in breast milk of lactating mothers, basic nutrition education, aggressive advocacy, social mobilization, awareness campaigns, including communication with all relevant target groups and the relevant policy makers are urgently required.

AIMIt is our opinion that the CDC and the WHO have underestimated cross-contamination under examination gloves in dental clinics while wearing jewelry, such as finger rings. These agencies only "recommend" removing jewelry, and only washing hands for 15 seconds with soap and warm water before donning gloves. This study examined several washing procedures and finger rings using simulated microbes.

METHODOLOGYA gloved rubber hand manikin was made and fitted with a fresh disposable vinyl glove. Four fingers were fitted with rings or no ring, dusted with simulated microbes, and washed with a scrub brush for 5, 15, and 25 seconds under 20 degrees C and 40 degrees C water alone, or with liquid hand soap. Light levels (in lux) of fluorescent powder before and after washing were measured and delta scores calculated for changes in light levels, equivalent to effectiveness of hand washing procedures. A full-factorial, 3-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for differences among levels of the three study factors-time, temperature, and soap use. Tukey's post hoc honestly significant difference (HSD) test was applied to significant factors to examine pair-wise differences between factor levels.

RESULTSIt was found that the longer the hands with rings were washed with a scrub brush under flowing water, the more simulated microbes were removed. By 25 seconds, all methods were essentially the same. Simulated microbes were more difficult to remove from the palm compared to the back of the hand. The liquid hand soap used in this study was more effective with warm water than cold. When given a choice of washing with cold water up to 15 seconds, it would be preferable not to use soap to remove simulated microbes. Qualitatively, the outer surface of finger rings were more effectively cleaned than the crevice below the ring, and the ring with a stone setting appeared to accumulate and retain simulated microbes more than other rings.

CONCLUSIONThe most effective treatment was washing with warm water and liquid soap. Longer times were more effective. Rings should not be worn under examination gloves due to difficulty cleaning in the crevice under the ring, and the well-known consequences of cross-contamination between the patient and the health care worker.

Colony Count, Microbial ; Fingers ; microbiology ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Hand ; anatomy & histology ; microbiology ; Hand Disinfection ; methods ; Humans ; Jewelry ; microbiology ; Manikins ; Soaps ; therapeutic use ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; Water

OBJECTIVE: Impulsivity is a core feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) that likely arises from combined genetic and environmental influences. The interaction of the low activity variant of the monoamine oxidase-A (MAOA-L) gene and early childhood adversity has been shown to predict aggression in clinical and non-clinical populations. Although impulsivity is a risk factor for aggression in BPD and ASPD, little research has investigated potential gene-environment (G×E) influences impacting its expression in these conditions. Moreover, G×E interactions may differ by diagnosis. METHODS: Full factorial analysis of variance was employed to investigate the influence of monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) genotype, childhood abuse, and diagnosis on Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11) scores in 61 individuals: 20 subjects with BPD, 18 subjects with ASPD, and 23 healthy controls. RESULTS: A group×genotype×abuse interaction was present (F(2,49)=4.4, p=0.018), such that the interaction of MAOA-L and childhood abuse predicted greater BIS-11 motor impulsiveness in BPD. Additionally, BPD subjects reported higher BIS-11 attentional impulsiveness versus ASPD participants (t(1,36)=2.3, p=0.025). CONCLUSION: These preliminary results suggest that MAOA-L may modulate the impact of childhood abuse on impulsivity in BPD. Results additionally indicate that impulsiveness may be expressed differently in BPD and ASPD.
Aggression ; Antisocial Personality Disorder ; Borderline Personality Disorder* ; Diagnosis ; Genotype ; Impulsive Behavior ; Monoamine Oxidase ; Risk Factors

The concept of cell transplantation using tissue engineering techniques has provided numerous possibilities in the area of urologic tissue reconstruction. Tissue engineering applications in the genitourinary tract system have been investigated in almost every tissue in order to improve, restore and replace existing tissue function. Although most reconstructive efforts still remain in the experimental stage, several technologies have been transferred to the bedside with satisfactory outcome. In this article, we describe tissue engineering approaches attempted in the genitourinary system for reconstruction.
Animal ; Biomedical Engineering* ; Bladder ; Fetus ; Gene Therapy/methods ; Genitalia ; Human ; Kidney ; Ureter ; Urethra ; Urogenital System*