Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Feb; 86(2): 359-72
Thomas RE, Lorenzetti DL, Spragins W, Jackson D, Williamson T

Abstract. Yellow fever vaccine provides long-lasting immunity. Rare serious adverse events after vaccination include neurologic or viscerotropic syndromes or anaphylaxis. We conducted a systematic review of adverse events associated with yellow fever vaccination in vulnerable populations. Nine electronic bibliographic databases and reference lists of included articles were searched. Electronic databases identified 2,415 abstracts for review, and 32 abstracts were included in this review. We identified nine studies of adverse events in infants and children, eight studies of adverse events in pregnant women, nine studies of adverse events in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients, five studies of adverse events in persons 60 years and older, and one study of adverse events in individuals taking immunosuppressive medications. Two case studies of maternal-neonate transmission resulted in serious adverse events, and the five passive surveillance databases identified very small numbers of cases of yellow fever vaccine-associated viscerotropic disease, yellow fever vaccine-associated neurotropic disease, and anaphylaxis in persons ≥ 60 years. No other serious adverse events were identified in the other studies of vulnerable groups.

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Feb; 86(2): 349-58
Johansson MA, Arana-Vizcarrondo N, Biggerstaff BJ, Gallagher N, Marano N, Staples JE

Abstract. Yellow fever virus (YFV), a mosquito-borne virus endemic to tropical Africa and South America, is capable of causing large urban outbreaks of human disease. With the ease of international travel, urban outbreaks could lead to the rapid spread and subsequent transmission of YFV in distant locations. We designed a stochastic metapopulation model with spatiotemporally explicit transmissibility scenarios to simulate the global spread of YFV from a single urban outbreak by infected airline travelers. In simulations of a 2008 outbreak in Asunción, Paraguay, local outbreaks occurred in 12.8% of simulations and international spread in 2.0%. Using simple probabilistic models, we found that local incidence, travel rates, and basic transmission parameters are sufficient to assess the probability of introduction and autochthonous transmission events. These models could be used to assess the risk of YFV spread during an urban outbreak and identify locations at risk for YFV introduction and subsequent autochthonous transmission.

Plant Signal Behav. 2012 Jan 1; 7(1): 142-4
Enami K, Tanaka K, Hanaoka M

In addition to the cell nucleus, plant cells also possess genomic DNA and gene expression machineries within mitochondria and plastids. In higher plants, retrograde transcriptional regulation of several nuclear genes encoding plastid-located proteins has been observed in response to changes in a wide variety of physiological properties in plastids, including organelle gene expression (OGE) and tetrapyrrole metabolism. This regulation is postulated to be accomplished by plastid-to-nucleus signaling, ( 1,2) although the overall signal transduction pathway(s) are not well characterized. By applying a specific differentiation system in tobacco Bright Yellow-2 (BY-2) cultured cells, ( 3,4) we recently reported that the regulatory system of nuclear gene expressions modulated by a plastid signal was also observed during differentiation of plastids into amyloplasts.5 While retrograde signaling from plastids was previously speculated to consist of several independent pathways, we found inhibition of OGE and perturbation in the cellular content of one tetrapyrrole intermediate, heme, seemed to interact to regulate amyloplast differentiation. Our results thus highlight the possibility that several sources of retrograde signaling in plastids could be integrated in an intraorganellar manner.

Plant Signal Behav. 2012 Jan 1; 7(1): 34-7
Fujiwara MT, Yoshioka Y, Hirano T, Kazama Y, Abe T, Hayashi K, Itoh R

Organelle dynamics in the plant male gametophyte has received attention for its importance in pollen tube growth and cytoplasmic inheritance. We recently revealed the dynamic behaviors of plastids in living Arabidopsis pollen grains and tubes, using an inherent promoter-driven FtsZ1-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion. Here, we further monitored the movement of pollen tube plastids with an actin1 promoter-driven, stroma-targeted yellow fluorescent protein (YFP). In elongating pollen tubes, most plastids localized to the tube shank, where they displayed either retarded and unsteady motion, or fast, directional, and long-distance movement along the tube polarity. Efficient plastid tracking further revealed a population of tip-forwarding plastids that undergo a fluctuating motion(s) before traveling backwards. The behavior of YFP-labeled plastids in pollen basically resembled that of FtsZ1-GFP-labeled plastids, thus validating the use of FtsZ1-GFP for simultaneous visualization of the stroma and the plastid-dividing FtsZ ring.

J Biotechnol. 2012 Jan 24;
Cuero R, Lilly J, McKay DS

Molecular biosensors are useful tools that detect metal ions or other potentially toxic chemicals. However, the efficiency of conventional sensors is limited in mixed metals substrates, which is the common way they are found in nature. The use of biosensors constructed from genetically modified living microbial systems has the potential of providing sensitive detection systems for specific toxic targets. Consequently, our investigation was aimed at assembling different genetic building blocks to produce a focused microbial biosensor with the ability to detect specific metals. This objective was achieved by using a synthetic biology approach. Our genetic building blocks, including a synchronized ribosomal switch-iron ion channel, along with sequences of promoters, metal-binding proteins (Fe, Pb), ribosomal binding sites, yellow fluorescence reporter protein (YFRP), and terminators, were constructed within the same biobrick in Escherichia coli. We used an rpoS ribosomal switch containing an aptamer, which responds to the specific metal ligands, in synchronization with an iron ion channel, TonB. This switch significantly stimulates translation, as expressed by higher fluorescence, number of colonies, and concentration of RNA in E. coli. The positive results show the effectiveness of using genetically tailored synchronized ribosomal switch-ion channels to construct microbial biosensors to detect specific metals, as tested in iron solutions.

J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2012 Feb 2;
Kind F, Scherer K, Bircher AJ

Summary  Background: The increased frequency of case reports of allergic contact dermatitis from non-permanent black henna tattoos in recent years shows the popularity of this form of body painting. Patients and methods: Seven patients presented with allergic contact dermatitis after initial hair or eyelash dyeing. They all had a history of a previous reaction from a black henna tattoo. All were patch tested with the European standard patch test series and the standard supplemental series, as well as special series for dyes and hairdressers. Results: All seven patients showed a positive reaction in patch testing with para-phenylenediamine (PPD) (0.3 % and/or 1.0 % in pet.). Five patients also had positive reactions to other dyes such as aminophenol, para-toluene diamine, disperse orange and yellow and four patients reacted to benzocaine. These were interpreted as cross-reactions. The time from sensitization by the black henna tattoo to the onset of allergic contact dermatitis after hair dyeing was an average of 6.2 years. Conclusions: The most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis after black henna tattoos is PPD. Both the long skin contact and the high concentrations of PPD increase the risk of sensitization. Allergic contact dermatitis may be followed by post-inflammatory hyper- or hypopigmentation, scarring and lifelong sensitization, which can have occupational impact, especially for hair dressers and cosmeticians.

J Econ Entomol. 2011 Dec; 104(6): 2095-8
Bharadwaj A, Stafford KC

The yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L., has been used to indicate qualitatively the presence of entomopathogenic fungi in the soil or as a model for evaluating stress and other factors on fungal activity. Although this beetle appears highly susceptible to many of these fungi, little quantitative information is available on the sensitivity of T. molitor to a specific fungus and, therefore, fungal presence or as an indicator for pathogenicity to other species. The purpose of this study was to establish the suitability of T. molitor larvae as a bioassay probe for Metarhizium brunneum for comparison against the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis. Nine concentrations of M. brunneum strain F52 ranging from 1.0 x 10(1) to 8.4 x 10(8) conidial/ml were simultaneously tested against T. molitor larvae and I. scapularis adults. Larvae of yellow mealworm were less sensitive to M. brunneum than I. scapularis adults (LC50's 4.4 x 10(7) and 1.7 x 10(5) conidia/ml, respectively, 4-wk post-treatment). The greater sensitivity of I. scapularis to the fungus suggests that the detection of fungal mycosis in mealworms would indicate sufficient inoculum to be pathogenic to I. scapularis and make this insect a suitable probe for evaluation of the presence and activity of M. brunneum against the blacklegged tick in field applications.

J Econ Entomol. 2011 Dec; 104(6): 1856-63
Piñero JC, Souder SK, Gomez LE, Mau RF, Vargas RI

The effectiveness of foliar applications of protein baits against pestiferous fruit flies (Tephritidae) can be adversely affected by a rapid loss of attractive volatile compounds and by rainfall due to the high water solubility of the baits. In a large coffee, Coffea arabica L., plantation in Hawaii with high and low populations of Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), the relative attractiveness of GF-120 NF Naturalyte Fruit Fly Bait as either a 40% (vol:vol) spray solution (= GF-120 NF) or as a formulated proprietary amorphous polymer matrix (= GF-120 APM) was compared. The GF-120 APM formulations contained either, 25, 50, or 75% of GF-120 NF (wt:wt). All baits were tested in association with visually attractive yellow bait stations as a way of standardizing the evaluations. With both high and low C. capitata populations, significantly more females were attracted to the fresh sprayed GF-120 NF than to any of the three fresh GF-120 APM formulations. The attractiveness of GF-120 sprayed decreased significantly after 1 wk, whereas 1-wk-old GF-120 APM formulations were as attractive as similar fresh formulations. GF-120 APM 75% aged for 3 wk outperformed similarly-aged sprayed GF-120 NF with comparatively high C. capitata populations. With low populations, both GF-120 APM 75% and GF-120 APM 50% aged for 2 wk outperformed the similarly aged sprayed GF-120 NF. Combined findings indicate that APM mixed with either 50 or 75% GF-120 applied to bait stations can be attractive to female C. capitata for up to 3 wk longer than the standard sprayed GF-120 NF.

Cell Immunol. 2012 Jan 12;
Grupillo M, Gualtierotti G, He J, Sisino G, Bottino R, Rudert WA, Trucco M, Fan Y

Anti-insulin autoimmunity is one of the primary forces in initiating and progressing β-cell destruction in type 1 diabetes. While insulin expression in thymic medullary epithelial cells has been shown to be essential for establishing β-cell central tolerance, the function of insulin expression in antigen-presenting cells (APCs) of hematopoietic lineage remains elusive. With a Cre-lox reporter approach, we labeled Aire-expressing cells with enhanced yellow fluorescent proteins, and found that insulin expression in the spleen was restricted predominantly to a population of Aire(+)CD11c(int)B220(+) dendritic cells (DCs). Targeted insulin deletion in APCs failed to induce anti-islet autoimmunity in B6 mice. In contrast, elevated levels of T cell infiltration into islets were observed in B6(g7) congenic mice when insulin was specifically deleted in their CD11c-expressing DCs (B6(g7)·CD11c-ΔIns mice). Thus, insulin expression in BM-derived, Aire(+) tolerogenic DCs may play an essential role to prevent the activation and expansion of insulin-reactive T cells in the periphery.

Int J Emerg Med. 2012 Feb 1; 5(1): 6
Vaidyanathan S, Soni B, Oo T, Hughes P, Singh G, Pulya K

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The Manchester Triage System is commonly used as the triage system in emergency departments of the UK. As per the Manchester Triage System, patients presenting with retention of urine to the accident and emergency department are categorized to yellow, which denotes that the ideal maximum time to first contact with a treating clinician will be 60 min. Cervical spinal cord injury patients, in whom urinary catheter is blocked, may develop suddenly headache, sweating, high blood pressure, cardiac dysrhythmia, convulsions, intracranial bleed, and acute neurogenic pulmonary oedema as a result of autonomic dysreflexia due to a distended bladder. CASE PRESENTATION: A 46-year-old male with C-6 tetraplegia developed urinary retention because of a blocked catheter. He was seen immediately on arrival in the spinal injuries unit. The blocked catheter was removed and a new catheter was about to be inserted. Then this patient said that the ceiling lights were very bright and glaring. Five milligrams of Nifedipine was given sublingually. This patient started having fits involving his head, face, neck and shoulders with loss of consciousness. A 14-French silicone Foley catheter was inserted per urethra without any delay and 300 ml of clear urine was drained. This patient recovered consciousness within 5 min. Computed tomography of the brain revealed no focal cerebral or cerebellar abnormality. There was no intra-cranial haemorrhage. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates that spinal cord injury patients with lesion above T-6, who develop retention of urine because of a blocked catheter, may look apparently well, but these patients can develop suddenly life-threatening autonomic dysreflexia. Therefore, spinal cord injury patients, who present to the accident and emergency department or spinal units with a blocked urinary catheter, should be seen urgently although their vital signs may be stable on arrival. Increasing the awareness of staff in emergency departments regarding autonomic dysreflexia as well as education of the patient and carers will be useful in preventing this complication in persons with spinal cord injury.

Br J Dermatol. 2012 Feb 1;
Lallas A, Kyrgidis A, Tzellos TG, Apalla Z, Karakyriou E, Karatolias A, Lefaki I, Sotiriou E, Ioannides D, Argenziano G, Zalaudek I

Background:  Dermoscopy is useful in evaluating skin tumours, but its applicability expands also in the field of inflammatory skin disorders. Plaque psoriasis (PP), dermatitis, lichen planus (LP) and pityriasis rosea (PR) are common inflammatory skin diseases, but little is currently known about their dermoscopic features. Objective:  To determine and compare the dermoscopic patterns associated with of PP, dermatitis, LP and PR and to assess the validity of certain dermoscopic criteria in the diagnosis of PP. Methods:  Patients with PP, dermatitis, LP and PR were prospectively enrolled. The single most recently developed lesion was dermoscopically and histopathologically examined. Variables included vascular morphology, vascular arrangement, background colour, scale colour, scale distribution and presence of Wickham striae. Univariate and adjusted odds ratios were calculated. Discriminant functions were used to plot ROC curves. Results:  Eighty-three patients with PP and 86 patients with either dermatitis, LP or PR were included in the study. Dotted vessels in a regular arrangement over a light red background and white scales were highly predictive of the diagnosis of PP, whereas dermatitis more commonly showed yellow scales and dotted vessels in a patchy arrangement. PR was characterized by yellowish background, dotted vessels and peripheral scales; whitish lines (Wickham striae) were exclusively seen in LP. Conclusions:  PP, LP, PR and dermatitis show specific dermoscopic patterns that may aid their clinical diagnosis. Certain combinations of dermoscopic features can reliably predict the diagnosis of PP.

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2012 Jan; 32(1): 39-41
Wang KJ, Sun HS

According to the records in ancient Chinese literatures such as Lingshu (Miraculous Pivot), Nanjing (The Yellow Emperor's Canon of 81 Difficult Issues), Jinzhen fu (Odes to Golden Needles) and Zhenjiu Dacheng (Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), the importance of pressing hand has been always stressed. The role of the pressing hand can irreplaceable by the puncturing hand. The touching and pressing with the pressing hand assist on the accurate location of acupoint. The plucking technique may invigorate meridian qi and promote the arrival of qi. Inserting the needle against the finger nail of the pressing hand avoids or alleviates pain to the largest extent. Detecting along meridian and pressing technique main induce qi getting to the affected area. This paper introduces the importance of pressing hand, aiming to suggest the clinical physicians pay more attentions to the effect of the pressing hand in acupuncture practice.